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: Kathleen A. Dobbs RANDOM DRUG TESTS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS To the Editor: Student drug testing is needed in all the schools in the United States. Our children are dying at an alarming rate in this country. The weapon of mass destruction is right here; it's called addiction. Schools need to step up and starting helping to fight this so-called war rather then hiding it. My own son was buying his cocaine in a special-ed classroom in a suburb of Southern New Jersey. Maybe had they drug-tested him it wouldn't have gone on as long as it did. It's not that I was in denial; I had no idea what to look for and never thought he would use drugs. Wake up, America! Start standing up and doing the right thing. Save our children, of all ages -- children are using drugs as early as fifth grade. Drug testing should be mandatory in all schools. Kathleen A. Dobbs National Park The writer is a co-founder of Parent-to-Parent, an organization that helps parents find drug treatment for their children. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake