Pubdate: Fri, 05 Oct 2007 Source: News-Review, The (Roseburg, OR) Copyright: 2007 The News-Review Contact: http://apps.oregonnews.com/forms/lettertoeditor/index.php Website: http://www.newsreview.info Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2623 Author: Kirk Muse DRUG TESTS MAY BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE I'm writing about Rob McCallum's Sept. 27 thoughtful column: "Don't make the drug problem worse." As the parent of a 16-year-old, ideally I hope my son will never use any illegal drugs. However, if he does use an illegal drug, I would hope it's marijuana and only marijuana. Drug testing discourages this because marijuana is fat soluble. As a result, marijuana stays in a person's system for up to several weeks. On the other hand, drugs like meth, cocaine and heroin exit the body within a few days because they are water-soluble. Drug testing discourages marijuana use and encourages use of much more dangerous drugs like meth, cocaine and heroin. Would you want your children experimenting with meth or heroin instead of marijuana? Meth and heroin can and do kill. Marijuana does not. Meth, cocaine and heroin are highly addictive. Marijuana is not. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman