Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jan 2005
Source: Brainerd Daily Dispatch (MN)
Copyright: 2005 The Brainerd Daily Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.brainerddispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1110
Author: Margaret McCormick

ARE DRUG TESTS A MONEYMAKER?

It seems strange to me that our county will offer drug tests to
families in Crow Wing County for $10 plus tax. Yet a person on
probation who has been clean off drugs for two years has to pay $22
for these tests to be completed "supposedly" on a random basis.

I personally know someone who, for the past two years is doing all the
right things to stay off drugs and do what the County deemed for them
in the court system. He has not had a dirty urinalysis in two years,
he works full time (sometimes more), has essentially taken a bad thing
and made it a great thing for him by means of a clean life. But it
seems the more this person is clean, the more often the county
requires him to take these drug tests.

This person's "number/color" is pulled at least twice a month at a
cost of $22 per test (doesn't sound very random to me). While I
understand that this person is on probation, the fact remains that
there are people who get in trouble and do everything in their power
to do better (i.e.) stay off drugs, not commit crimes, become a
productive member of our society. Is this how our county rewards this
good behavior? Or by having increased tests for those who are proving
to be clean is this a money maker for the county since we do have our
own drug-testing facility?

MARGARET MCCORMICK

Crosby
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)