Pubdate: Sun, 01 Apr 2007
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2007 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n377/a09.html
Author: Anthony Papa

THE WAR ON DRUGS, NOW IN SCHOOLS

To the Editor:

Re "Is This the Answer to Drug Use?" (March 25):

Students are now on the front lines of the war on drugs. Whether it 
be random, suspicionless student drug testing, or having police dogs 
sniffing around school lockers for drugs, students are now feeling 
the heavy-handedness of the government's efforts to keep them "drug-free."

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is trying to 
persuade local educators across the country to apply random, 
suspicionless drug tests by conducting regional summits. This policy 
is unsupported by available science and opposed by leading experts in 
adolescent health.

Instead, educators should implement alternatives to drug testing that 
emphasize education and discussion that will build trust between 
students and adults. Forcing students to urinate in a cup is not the 
way to keep them drug-free.

Anthony Papa

New York

The writer is communications specialist, Drug Policy Alliance.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake