Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jan 2006
Source: Record, The (Hackensack, NJ)
Copyright: 2006 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.bergen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/44
Author: Margaret K. Collins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

PEQUANNOCK DRUG TESTING FINDS FIRST TRACE

PEQUANNOCK - One student at Pequannock Township High  School tested 
positive last week for substance abuse,  an administrator said 
Tuesday. It was the first trace  of drugs or alcohol found through 
the school district's  drug policy.

District high school students may voluntarily join the  random test 
pool, but those who participate in sports  or extracurricular 
activities are required to do so.  Pequannock is the first district 
in the state with  voluntary drug testing of middle school students.

Officials would not provide specifics on the student or  illegal 
substance, said William Trusheim, the  Pequannock Valley Middle 
School principal and spokesman  for the district's drug program. For 
example, Trusheim  wouldn't say whether the student volunteered or 
was  picked randomly because he was involved in activities.  But he 
did confirm that the student remains in school.

As outlined in the policy, Trusheim said, the student's  parents have 
been notified and a student assistant  counselor is providing counseling.

"No suspension is involved in the random testing,"  Trusheim said. 
"That's one of the differences between  random testing and suspicion testing."

With suspicion testing - the older drug policy that's  still 
sometimes used - a teacher or administrator can  order students to be 
tested if they show signs of drug  abuse. Refusal can result in suspension.

The township launched its federally funded, random drug  testing 
program in November. It's intended more to  deter students from using 
drugs rather than catch them  in the act, Trusheim said.

Here's how it works:

Each week, program coordinator John Graf selects a  handful of 
students - volunteers from the middle school  and volunteers and 
students in activities from the high  school. They are pulled out of 
class individually, Graf  said, and asked to give saliva and urine 
samples in the  nurse's office. The district doesn't test for 
steroids because it's too expensive, Graf said.

When there's a non-negative test, the sampling is sent  to Quest 
Diagnostics |for confirmation, which was the  case last week.

So far, about 700 students have either volunteered to  be tested or 
have been pegged because they participate  in high school activities. 
About 60 students - in the  middle and high schools - have been tested.

The goal, Trusheim said, is to test at least 20 percent  of the 
students by June.

Administrators would still like to see more volunteers,  especially 
in the middle school.

The parent organization there has provided funding for  bracelets 
similar to the rubber Lance Armstrong "Live  Strong" ones used to 
promote cancer research. This  week, middle school volunteers will 
receive theirs,  white ones with the inscription: "Pequannock RDT 100 
Percent Clean." RDT stands for random drug testing.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom