Pubdate: Tue, 07 Mar 2006 Source: Daily Press (Newport News,VA) Copyright: 2006 The Daily Press Contact: http://www.dailypress.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/585 Author: Carol Mathews WHY NOT START NOW? My 24-year-old daughter's take on the issue of student drug testing opened my eyes to a new angle on the situation - that of the students' futures in our work force. She is firmly on the side of drug testing, not because it could save students with drug problems and their families years of living the nightmare of drug dependence and its consequences, but because employers require drug testing of employees. Drug testing is going to be a part of the future, so students had better get used to it. I have worked as a drug emergency hotline volunteer and have experienced the trauma of drug and alcohol abuse in my immediate family and can speak to the devastation dependency can inflict. Not only does it disrupt the life of the abuser/victim but also every member of the family, friends, jobs, etc. - every aspect of life is ruined until the addiction is halted and reversed. Simple drug testing can stop the nightmare by catching the disease at its onset. CAROL MATHEWS Williamsburg