Pubdate: Thu, 11 Feb 1999
Source: Sioux City Journal (IA)
Copyright: 1999 Sioux City Journal
Contact:  http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/945
Section: Capitol Correspondent
Author: Kate Thompson

GOVERNOR HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT STUDENT DRUG TESTING

DES MOINES - Iowa lawmakers want to allow schools to conduct random drug 
tests on students who take part in extracurricular activities.

Gov. Tom Vilsack, who has not ruled out support for such a plan, has 
expressed concerns about privacy and the reliability of the tests.

"While I undertand the motivation behind the program, I want to make sure 
there are privacy protections," he said at his weekly press conference.

The governor said he wants to be sure children are not placed in 
compromising positions or that adults doing the testing aren't faced with 
having claims of fondling children lodged against them if a test is positive.

Vilsack said there would need to be a high degree of accountability for the 
results and he said he wanted to be sure the reputations of children are 
protected from false positive results.

"Many schools are asking for the opportunity to make sure their schools are 
drug free," Vilsack said. "We need to explore ways to do this."

Sen. Steve King, R-Kiron, has challenged Vilsack's criticism.

"I am disappointed that the governor has expressed skepticism about the 
drug testing proposal for students that is currently under consideration in 
the Legislature," King said. "I believe we have an obligation to the 
families of Iowa to fight drugs with every weapon at hand."

He said by looking for drug use when it first begins, treatment can be 
started before addiction occurs.

"If the governor shares my concern about the safety and security of our 
children, and I believe he does, he should support this measure," King 
said. "I believe it is our responsibility to make sure our kids have a 
safe, drug-free environment in which to learn, and if random testing helps 
stamp out drug abuse, I'm for it."

Vilsack also expressed concern about false positives that might occur as 
the result of eating a "poppy seed bagel for breakfast."

King said, however, the confirmation tests are done on gas chromatography 
mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technology so there is "virtually no chance of 
false positives."

King said a "modesty" feature has been added to the bill that would allow 
only adults of the same sex as the child to observe the tests and that the 
inclusion of a medical review officer to examine all positive results will 
clarify whether a student has been using a drug or has a legitimate reason 
for testing positive.

He recently toured the state laboratory where he said he learned there is 
no margin for error in the GC/MS technology. The labs using that equipment 
are certified and approved by the Iowa Department of Public Health which 
sends blind samples to the labs every month.

One incorrect result on a blind sample results in the lab losing its 
certification, King said.

"Random testing is economical because the threat is there that everyone 
could be tested," said King. "That's economical on a per-pupil basis."

While only a few businesses are using the state's current workplace random 
drug testing bill, it has been successful, King said.

One company which had 75 employees believed there was a problem involving 
about 10 employees who appeared to be exchanging large amounts of cash and 
using meth.

King said the company established a drug and alcohol testing policy. Eight 
of the 10 suspected drug users refused to take the test and the other two 
walked off the job.

Every other person at the company took the test and passed, King said.