Pubdate: Sat, 01 Feb 2003
Source: Florida Today (FL)
Copyright: 2003 Florida Today
Contact: http://www.floridatoday.com/forms/services/letters.htm
Website: http://www.flatoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/532
Author: Jodi James

DRUG TESTING CAN BE FAULTY

Those in favor of drug-testing of students in order to assure they
remain drug-free should be aware of possible unintended
consequences.

Use of any substance, including alcohol and tobacco, is illegal for
those who are under age, yet most current testing methods exclude
these substances.

Anyone can look on the Internet to find out how long a given substance
stays in the body. For example, cannabis stays for up to 45 days while
cocaine is undetectable after four days or less. Ecstasy remains in
the system from five to seven days. A young person intent on doing
drugs can buy whatever substance he or she wants.

One study of the government drug-testing program concluded it spent
$85,000 per positive result. Kits are available on the Internet that
advertise that they mask positive results for as little as $20.

Rather than keeping our youth drug free, these testing policies could
encourage our children to use drugs that leave the body quickly or to
learn to produce fake negative results.

The choice to remain drug free is based on self-esteem and
education.

Our education dollars are better spent on teachers and curriculums
than urine tests with questionable results.

JODI JAMES

Melbourne
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)