Pubdate: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 Source: Tribune-Georgian, The (GA) Copyright: 2005sThe Tribune-Georgian Contact: http://www.tribune-georgian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3841 Author: Anastacia Cosner HIGH SCHOOL DRUG POLICY NEEDS ANOTHER LOOK Dear Editor, In the article "Administrators try to keep school safe", there were apparent inconsistencies in the logic behind Camden County High School's tightening of their security on campus to keep students out of danger. All students have a right to feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment. The administration reserves the right to randomly drug test any student suspected of drug use, and a refusal to submit to such a test would be perceived as an admission of guilt. This is a dangerous violation of student privacy and independence. Especially in the case of marijuana, drug tests do not accurately measure impairment, and have been proven to be inconsistent, often times resulting in false positive results. The active chemical in marijuana, THC, can remain in one's system up to 45 days after exposure. While "harder drugs" (such as cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and other commonly abused prescription drugs) have average detection times of two to five days. Current student drug testing methods are costly and ineffective at addressing the most detrimental aspects of youth drug use (such as impairment, addiction, and detecting the most serious drugs of abuse). Students with drug problems should have access to resources like counseling, extracurricular activities, and science-based information. They should not be treated like criminals and delinquents. Treating young people like they are not capable of making their own informed decisions and taking personal responsibility for their actions is not an effective way to curb deviant behavior on campus. The Camden County High School officials should seriously reconsider their drug policies so that they will accurately and effectively allow for students' personal and academic development by looking at drugs as a public health issue, not follow the poor example of the failed War on Drugs by incorrectly categorizing substance abuse as a criminal/judicial problem. ANASTACIA COSNER University of Maryland, College Park Senator, College of Arts and Humanities President, Students for Sensible Drug Policy Secretary, SSDP Board of Directors - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath