Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jan 2003
Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2003 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Contact:  http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/195
Author: Alan Shinn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SCHOOL DRUG TESTING ISN'T THE BEST ANSWER

The Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai'i applauds Sen. Robert Bunda's passion 
in proposing school drug testing as a means to combat substance abuse among 
our youth. However, the cure may be worse than the disease.

Putting the responsibility on the schools for drug testing will further 
burden teachers and administrators already struggling with our children's 
academic achievement and personal development.

Further, the cost of drug testing may deflect monies better spent on 
after-school programs with proven drug-prevention results.

And random drug testing raises constitutional issues that will be 
challenged for a long time.

A cost-effective strategy is parents and other family members who take the 
time to find out what their kids are doing and with whom. We can do a 
better job of supporting our families.

Let's be anti-drug and not anti-kid.

Alan Shinn
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MAP posted-by: Beth