Pubdate: Wed, 16 Mar 2005
Source: Times Record News (Wichita Falls, TX)
Copyright: 2005 The E.W. Scripps Co.
Contact:  http://TimesRecordNews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/995
Author: Tom Angell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Note: Headline by newshawk

DRUG TESTING FACTS MISREPRESENTED

In his March 12 column, sports editor Nick Gholson claims that student drug 
testing has been proven to be "effective in discouraging drug use by some 
students"

But the largest study ever conducted on the topic - funded by the National 
Institute on Drug Abuse - found that drug testing is "not associated with 
either the prevalence or frequency of student marijuana use, or of other 
illicit drug use."

Gholson also says that "usually the only people against drug tests are the 
druggies." But opponents of student drug testing include the National 
Education Association, the American Public Health Association, the American 
Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Social Workers, and the 
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

I thought journalists were supposed to check the facts - instead of making 
them up - before reporting them.

Tom Angell, Communications Director

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Washington, DC

Edtior's Note: The Web site www.studentdrugtesting.org -- from which 
Wichita Falls school administrators are reportedly studying information -- 
reports as "The Facts" that "schools that have implemented non-disciplinary 
student drug testing programs have found the programs to be effective in 
reducing drug use and improving the learning environment for all students." 
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MAP posted-by: Beth