Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jan 2008
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2008 Journal Sentinel Inc.
Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/submit.asp
Website: http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: Florence Edwards

Drug Testing

STUDENTS WILL SIMPLY AVOID TESTING LOCATIONS

While the desire of schools and communities to help students deal 
with the pressure to do drugs is admirable, random drug testing 
misses a key point about the young-adult mind-set. If students know 
that they may be randomly tested for drugs, the ones who have real 
drug problems will just avoid the venue for testing, be that sports, 
other school activities or school itself. Ironically, these are the 
places that might be best equipped to help addicted students get the 
treatment they need. Supportive coaches and teachers are in a 
position to make a difference.

When I was in high school, a close friend appealed to a teacher to 
help with her friend's drug problem. The girl was dangerously abusing 
alcohol and coming to school high most of the time. If the school's 
reaction to her problem had been to discipline, rather than to offer 
help, or if she had not had a trusting relationship with the teacher 
who facilitated the process, then she may never have received the 
treatment she needed. When last I heard, she was clean, sober and had 
finished high school. I don't know if this would have happened with a 
punitive drug-testing policy.

Florence Edwards

Madison
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom