Pubdate: Thu, 17 Aug 2006
Source: Pacific Daily News (US GU)
Copyright: 2006 Pacific Daily News
Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.guampdn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122
Author: Brian Enriquez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOL-BASED DRUG TESTING FOSTERS INTEGRATED APPROACH TO PREVENTION

Take a moment to think about our island's progress against substance 
abuse. With all the different agencies, drug-prevention programs and 
federal funding on island, it seems that our island's battle with 
substance abuse has not been affected in any way. I'm not saying 
these agencies and programs are useless, because they really are 
important resources. What I'm saying is that we need a more strategic 
prevention program that is effective.

We know that substance abuse may begin as early as 12 years of age 
based on statistics, yet what have we done about it? Well, I have the 
answer: "Absolutely nothing!" We are failing our youths! We know 
they're using (drugs) but why aren't we doing anything about it?

For several years, we have been using outreach and (promoting) 
awareness to prevent our youths from (using) drugs. Obviously, this 
tactic isn't going to cut it. It's going to take more than just 
talking to a bunch of students. We have used this approach for 
several years and have not seen any dramatic decrease in drug use 
within our youths. This approach is not working and it's about time 
we take a look at alternative approaches.

I believe that a more effective drug-prevention program would be a 
program similar to a school-based drug testing program, but with a 
little adjustment. School-based drug testing programs in the United 
States basically test students who participate, as well as volunteer, 
in school activities, with parental consent. We need a similar 
program that not only tests athletes and students participating in 
school activities, but a program that integrates all students. If we 
randomly tested high school students who are considered at-risk, we 
would have the ability to detect drug use and create an intervention 
plan for each student. This program seems effective because it serves 
as a primary prevention as well as a secondary prevention. It works 
as a primary prevention by deterring all students away from drug use 
based on the possibility of being detected. In today's "system," 
there are no strings attached to drug use. If implemented, the 
possibility of being tested would be in the back of their minds and 
will make them think twice before using. It also serves as a 
secondary prevention by identifying those using drugs and planning an 
intervention for these individuals.

It's going to take a lot of hard work to get a program up and 
running, but it seems worthwhile. This is just one alternative that 
can be used as an approach to drug prevention. Now, it's up to the 
entire community of Guam -- island professionals and island leaders 
- -- to decide whether we are going to continue on the same track we 
are headed, or take a turn with a new approach to a more effective 
drug-prevention program. For those who are opposed to this approach, 
I challenge you to think of a more effective approach.

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Brian Enriquez is a senior majoring in social work at the University 
of Guam and a resident of Yigo.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom