Pubdate: Sat, 31 Jan 2004
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2004 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Lara Jakes Jordan, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND SCHOOL DRUG TESTING PROGRAM

WASHINGTON -- Sixteen-year-old Garrett Dush says he doesn't take drugs and 
wouldn't mind being tested for them at school under a program being 
championed by President Bush. But Garrett's father, Cris Dush, is concerned 
about how his son, a high school sophomore from Brookville, Pa., or other 
students would be selected for testing.

"It'd have to be random," says Cris Dush, who works at a state prison 
outside of Brookville, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. "If the kid 
is going to feel targeted ... I wouldn't want that."

The idea of steering America's kids clear of drugs has broad support. But 
the $23 million White House plan to increase testing in schools is drawing 
sharp criticism from some parents, school administrators and civil 
liberties activists. $21 million expansion Bush's plan, unveiled last week 
in his State of the Union speech, would expand a $2 million program that 
last year funded drug testing in eight school districts. A Supreme Court 
case in 2002 upheld the authority of schools to test students who 
participate in extracurricular activities, like sports teams.

Federal guidelines under which those students are tested have been kept 
deliberately vague to give schools and communities broad discretion. But 
Bush and his drug policy director insist test results be kept confidential.

"The aim here is not to punish children, but to send them this message: 'We 
love you, and we don't want to lose you,'" Bush said.

Privacy a concern Word can still get out, according to some administrators 
as well as critics. That's troubling to civil liberties groups who say 
children who need help could end up in jail instead.

"They're saying this is to help, not punish," said Ethan Nadelmann, 
executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance in New York, which fiercely 
guards against government privacy violations and questions the 
effectiveness of drug testing. "But it always starts with that. And 
inevitably, the next shoe to drop is: 'We need to punish people in order to 
help people.'"

Understanding consequences In most cases, students who test positive are 
sent to school counselors instead of doctors for intervention and 
treatment, said Julie Underwood, general counsel for the National School 
Boards Association. For the most part, she said, schools "are real good 
about student privacy," but word of a positive drug test can still get out.

"Students probably know," Underwood said. "For many school administrators, 
it may not be a concern, because part of the total picture is making sure 
that students understand the negative consequences of drug use."

She said it's unlikely that school districts shield all positive drug tests 
from the law.

But to student Garrett Dush, that doesn't matter much.

"I don't think you have to worry about it if you're not doing it," Garrett 
said. "So it wouldn't be a big deal if any of your friends found out your 
test results."

Sidebar

Drug Testing

Eight school districts and community projects are sharing $2 million in 
federal funds to begin testing students for drugs:

Autauga County, Ala., through nonprofit group The Noble Idea, Inc.: $84,004.

Auburn City Schools, Auburn, Ala.: $276,836, to share with schools in 
Opelika City and Lee County school districts.

Polk County, Fla.: $236,080.

Nelson County, Ky.: $284,203.

Jefferson Parish, La., Public School System, through the 24th Judicial 
District Attorney: $176,842.

Hunterdon County, N.J., through the Bethesda, Md.- based The Walsh Group: 
$401,241.

Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Rockville, Md., for eight 
unspecified high schools: $346,775.

Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Texas, Independent School District: $157,022.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman