Pubdate: Fri, 12 May 2006
Source: Journal and Courier (IN)
Copyright: 2006 Federated Publications, Inc
Contact: http://www.lafayettejc.com/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.jconline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1691
Author: Joe Gerrety
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

18% OF STUDENT PROBATIONERS FAIL DRUG SCREENS

About 18 percent of juvenile probationers who attend Tippecanoe 
County schools failed random drug screens administered by the 
probation office on April 26.

It was the second year in a row that Tippecanoe County probation 
officers have visited schools to administer drug screen tests shortly 
after April 20, designated by some as "420 Day."

Since the 1970s, 420 has been used as a code word by marijuana 
connoisseurs for their drug of choice.

"This is going to continue. ... It's a nationally recognized thing," 
Joshua Vander Plaats, a juvenile probation officer who organized the 
local mass screenings, said of 420 Day.

"It's embedded in the drug culture. It's advertised in magazines; 
it's advertised on the radio. It's becoming a coined phrase."

Last year, 88 percent of students screened were negative for illegal 
drug use. The numbers were not as good this year, with only 82 
percent having negative tests, Vander Plaats said.

Of the 152 probationers sampled, 17 tested positive for marijuana; 
four for amphetamine; three for cocaine; two for nicotine (tobacco); 
and one for benzodiazepine (prescription anti-seizure medication).

Juvenile court Judge Loretta Rush said she is disappointed with the results.

"These youth knew they were going to be drug screened as a regular 
term of probation and used anyway," Rush said. "Many of the youth 
that tested positive had completed intensive drug treatment programs 
and will have to go through additional drug treatment, aftercare and 
relapse prevention."

On a positive note, though, Rush said all those in the juvenile drug 
court program had clean screens.

About 41 percent of those tested -- 63 -- were Jefferson High School 
students, but they had a relatively low rate of positive drug screens.

Vander Plaats said several probationers told officers they had 
expected the surprise screenings.

Rush said those who failed their screens will be brought back to 
court and could face a variety of consequences, ranging from 
community service to short-term detention.

Altogether about 450 juveniles in Tippecanoe County are subject to 
some kind of supervision by the probation department.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman