Pubdate: Tue, 24 Sep 2002
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Section: Front Page, A Section, Above Fold
Copyright: 2002 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Deirdre Cox Baker

CEDAR RAPIDS SCHOOL WILL PAY TO DRUG TEST KIDS

Parents of Xavier High School students in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who suspect 
their children have used drugs can quickly find out -- and the school will 
pay for the drug tests. .Xavier's principal, Jeff Henderson, said the new 
policy was not a reaction to a specific incident. .

"We're not saying (drug use) is a problem here, but it's a tough job being 
a parent and we want to help parents when we can," he said. "This gives 
them another tool that can help."

Xavier's practice currently is unique among Iowa schools, and principals at 
two Catholic high schools in the Quad-Cities do not plan to adopt it.

Families pay for drug tests of students and employees at Alleman High 
School, Rock Island, Principal Colin Letendre said. The tests are conducted 
randomly, but every student is tested once a year.

Assumption High School, Davenport, does not conduct tests. Principal Lonnie 
Behnke said the school intervenes with discipline and rehabilitation if a 
student is caught using drugs or alcohol. The school does not plan to 
change its policy, he said.

Xavier is partnering with Mercy Medical Center's Sedlacek Treatment Center 
in a pilot project that will allow parents to take their children to a 
treatment center at any hour, any day, and test for certain drugs for free.

A standing order from Xavier's nurse authorizes the Mercy lab to test 
Xavier students. Parents must accompany the teenager to Mercy for testing 
and give consent for the urine specimen to be collected.

The test will detect cocaine, marijuana, opiates (codeine, morphine), 
amphetamines and benzodiazepines (Ativan, Halycyon and Valium). It will not 
cover alcohol or tobacco, which should easily be detected on a child's 
breath, said Bill Marsh, the administrative director of the treatment center.

"This is really a different approach to drug prevention in the community," 
said Marsh, who applauded the school's action.

Neither Marsh nor Henderson knows whether the approach will work.

"If students know their parents can test them at any time, that could 
prevent them from using in the first place," Marsh said. "That's the whole 
idea of prevention."

At Alleman, Letendre said all employees and students at high schools in the 
Catholic diocese, based in Peoria, Ill., are tested for drugs. Each family 
pays $50 a year and foots the bill for any follow-up tests that are needed.

The program is in its third year.

Letendre said benefits include giving students another way to refuse use of 
drugs and alcohol.

"We do believe it's a deterrent because it's random," he said.

A side benefit is increased health and wellness education, Letendre said. 
Students going to the school nurse for the test -- which uses pieces of 
hair -- have been asking many health-related questions, he added.

"We didn't anticipate that," he said.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
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MAP posted-by: Beth