Pubdate: Wed, 15 Oct 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: Stuart Akagi Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) RANDOM DRUG TESTING MUST BE SUPPORTED The problem with drug tests in public schools is that these tests are expensive -- $50, according to a KGMB-9 report on the issue. Projects in Hawai'i such as the Weed & Seed program are designed to ameliorate the drug problems. However, with the state prisons filled, incarceration of drug offenders is becoming a problem. Communities and the DOE should be responsible to pay for the random drug testing if they wish to see a decrease in drug use among teenagers. The random drug testing will fail, however, if the communities are not willing to fully support the drug testing, even if some other donor paid for it entirely. Helping high school students through drug screening and rehabilitation will not only lower the number of drug users in the future, it will also lower the need for more prison space. Stuart Akagi Waimanalo - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk