Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2007 Source: Honolulu Weekly (HI) Section: Cover story Copyright: 2007 Honolulu Weekly Inc Contact: http://www.honoluluweekly.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/197 Author: Travis Quezon Note: Additional reporting by Chris Haire Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) TEST SUBJECTS The Push For Random Student Drug Testing In Hawai'i The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) may want students to just say no to drugs, but when it comes to educators, the anti-drug agency wants them to just say yes to random student drug testing. Since the start of 2007, the organization has held four meetings in various spots across the United States in an effort to encourage schools to adopt random student drug testing (RSDT) programs. The anti-drug office made its pitch in Honolulu March 27, offering educators tips on how to secure federal grants to pay for random drug tests. Some $1.6 million in federal funds will go to pay for testing programs targeting only those students who participate in extracurricular activities. Speakers at the summit included U.S. Deputy Drug Czar Bertha Madras and Hawai'i's own self-appointed anti-drug G-Man Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona. Testing advocates say that not only are the tests a cheap way to combat student drug use--according to the ONDCP, tests cost anywhere from $10 to $50 a pop--some say the threat of random tests alone gives students who might otherwise be tempted to use drugs a reason to say no to their drug-using peers. Rick James might have said, cocaine is a powerful drug, but for RSDT supporters, fear is a powerful deterrent. While the lure of drug testing for students--and the promise of federal funding--has been officially dangled in front of Hawai'i's educators, whether or not there will be any bites has yet to be determined. Educators don't have long to decide. The deadline for Hawai'i school officials to get a piece of the $1.6 million pie is May 8. Greg Knudsen of the Hawai'i Board of Education said that there have been no official steps made in setting up RSDT programs by Hawai'i's schools. A Brief History Of Random Tests In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schools could conduct random--and suspicionless--drug testing of students who participate in extracurricular activities; conventional wisdom, of course, would suggest these are the very students least likely to use drugs. After the ruling, the Bush administration began handing out federal dollars to pay for tests determining whether or not tuba players, tailbacks and theater kids use drugs; according to the Mohave Daily News, to date $36 million has been used to pay for drug testing programs. Since the 2002 ruling, at least one state, Pennsylvania, has determined that random testing violates its state constitution, while the Washington State Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that will decide the fate of random student drug testing there. Closer to home, the Hawai'i State Legislature failed to pass a bill that would have implemented a random student drug testing program targeting athletes during the 2003 session. Opposing Local Voices "I've seen far too many tragedies and stories that could have been prevented if we had just been more proactive," Lt. Gov. Aiona said in a speech at the summit. A longtime anti-drug warrior, Aiona led the charge against serving alcohol at University of Hawai'i--Manoa football games and on campus. He is also co-chair of the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free and last year expressed his support of an anti-drug campaign launched by controversial Church of Scientology-affiliated organization Narconon. For Aiona, random drug testing will force parents who ignore their children's drug-using ways to do something about it. When a child tests positive for drugs at school, turning a blind eye to their child's problem will no longer be an option. Though Aiona believes that schools should get in the habit of drug testing students, comedian and parent Andy Bumatai disagrees. After a very public opposition to the proposal of drug testing at Mid-Pacific Institute, Bumatai withdrew two of his children from the private school when the decision was made by officials to go through with testing last year. Bumatai told the Weekly that he suspects there are ulterior motives behind the federal backing of testing programs. He said that one problem with a drug testing program is that it allows a for-profit corporation to get a foothold in Hawai'i's educational system. After all, with random drug tests, private companies--not the schools themselves--are responsible for conducting the tests and then passing along the results to parents and educators. By this measure, if random tests become the norm at America's public schools--thanks in part to a combination of federal funding and fear-mongering--a lucrative new industry would be born and federal funds that could have gone to drug education and awareness programs would go to subsidized private business. For Bumatai, federal funds supporting random tests should go where those funds are truly needed. "Money should be pointed at teaching children how to make good decisions across the board," Bumatai said, "not putting a drug chastity belt on them." The entertainer also believes random drug testing sends the wrong message to our children: It teaches them that they are guilty until proven innocent. "Kids can tell their teacher they aren't doing drugs," he said, "but unless that kid pisses into a cup they are going to be looked upon with suspicion." By Any Means Necessary? At the Honolulu drug policy summit, attorney Bill Judge made it clear that the issue of testing programs raises many questions that communities should asked themselves before implementing RSDT programs: Are parents, students and teachers comfortable with a program? If a program is set in place, what kind of drugs are students known to use and what should they be tested for? Should saliva, urine or hair testing be used? Are there measures to limit false positives in place? Who collects the samples? And most importantly, what happens when a student tests positive? According to Judge, an advocate of random drug testing who spoke at the summit, the decision to drug test should be made by individual schools, not the state or the city. "Random drug testing has been established as constitutional, but it doesn't mean you should do it. It may not be for you," he said. "It's a tool that every community has to decide on." He added, "This isn't workplace testing where the purpose is to identify a drug user and eradicate the problem." Judge said that there are no academic penalties to students in random drug tests and the results of a positive test are kept confidential. According to statements made by Deputy Drug Czar Madras at the summit, should a student test positive, test results are only available to their parents and administrators; neither teachers nor law enforcement are given the information. When it comes to drug tests, there are a number of different kinds to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. Urine tests offer up to a 5-day window of detection and flexibility in testing different kinds of drugs, including alcohol and nicotine. However, people have come up with ways to easily cheat urine tests; some dilute their specimens while others simply replace it with someone else's. Other tests, which take hair, oral fluids or sweat specimens, are more expensive than urine tests and have more narrow scopes of the kinds of drugs they can detect. All testing, of course, is susceptible to delivering false positives. Codeine can produce a positive result for heroin. Over-the-counter decongestants may produce a positive result for amphetamines. Food products with poppy seeds can produce a positive result for opiates. Supporters say students' medical records and lists of prescription medication provided beforehand will help limit the chance for false positives. However, the opposition to random tests contend that forcing students to provide this information further invades their privacy and, worse, puts personal information in the hands of private companies. Silver Bullet Or Firing Blanks? According to the state Department of Health's 2003 Hawai'i Student Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use study, approximately 46 percent of kids in the Aloha State have used illicit drugs by the time they reach their senior year of high school. According to New Jersey principal Chris Steffner, who was instrumental in creating a RSDT program at Hackettstown High School in 2004, there's a stereotype that many have of the typical kid that uses drugs--you know, the ones with the piercings and black T-shirts--and that stereotype isn't all that accurate. Steffner pointed out that so-called good kids use drugs too. She said that random tests can identify those students who otherwise appear to be doing just fine but who are doing drugs, and get them help before they go off to college, where they will be exposed even more to drugs and alcohol. There are also conflicting studies on the actual effectiveness of random testing. Advocates will point to a report by Ball State education professor Joseph McKinney, which claims that RSDT programs are "effective in reducing temptation" and "do not cause reductions in sports or extra curricular activities." The report, based on 2003 and 2005 surveys of 65 Indiana high schools, found that 91 percent of those principals polled felt that random testing limits the effect of peer pressure to use drugs and that participation in extra curricular activities increased 45 percent because of RSDT. Meanwhile, those opposing random drug tests point to two nationwide studies by the University of Michigan released in 2003 that found drug testing did not have an impact on illicit drug use among students, including athletes. The study found that the percentage of drug use by students in schools with drug testing programs was actually higher than schools without RSDT. The American Civil Liberties Union, which along with the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i led the opposition at ONDCP summit, believes student drug testing creates a negative atmosphere for students, breaks down relationships of trust between students and adults, and contributes to a hostile school environment. The organization points out that random testing is opposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Social Workers and the Association of Addiction Professionals. Pamela Lichty, president of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i, believes the federal money going to student drug testing could be better used elsewhere. She would like to see government money spent on proper drug education and prevention. "We should be using effective drug education that is realistic," Lichty said. "We have to provide students with accurate information, not scare tactics." Casual Users Forget cautionary tales. The movie industry loves to show the lighter side of drugs. Most movies involving drug use concentrate on the rise and fall of some gangster persona (think Scarface or Goodfellas) or updated cautionary tales of an almost Reefer Madness-like morality such as The Basketball Diaries or Requiem for a Dream. But there's a good chance that there's a movie you like out there with casual drug usage that didn't end with death, depravity, prison or redemption. Here are a few of our favorites. Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978) Marijuana, LSD The first of the not-so-dynamic duo and their series of stoner movies, and probably the best. It's safe to say this was written with a lot of green, leafy inspiration. Fun fact: The film's dialogue includes the word "man" 295 times. Drugstore Cowboy (1989) Variety of legal pharmaceuticals, acquired illegally. It's ironic that the most linear and straightforward film from director Gus Van Sant involves a road movie with a band of addicts. Matt Dillon plays Bob, leader of a group that relies on its wits and superstitions to stay ahead of the cops and curses while keeping its supply full. After one member ODs, Bob decides to go into a methadone program. That's where Naked Lunch author William S. Burroughs appears, playing--surprise!--a drug user and advocate. Pulp Fiction (1994) Cocaine, marijuana, heroin Hit men. Armed robbers. Boxers. Beautiful women with no shoes. Ezekiel 25:17. Everything about this movie exudes cool, even when dealing with an overdose. Forrest Gump may have won all the Oscars, but nobody wants to emulate Forrest Gump. Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996) Gleemonex Not all drug movies have to be about heroin. The Canadian troupe took on Xanax, Prozac and the entire anti-depressant pharmaceutical industry about a new wonder drug designed to lift depressed people out of their funk by allowing them to relive their favorite memory. Though a financial failure and split among critics, this series of tacked-together comedy sketches had moments of utter brilliance but still left KITH fans remembering some of their favorite moments from the show. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) Two bags of grass, 75 pellets of Mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls. And that's just in the first two minutes of the movie. Near-faithful adaptation from the canon of drug literature too filled with excesses for the masses who didn't know what they were getting into and completely unapologetic for its bad behavior. Johnny Depp made young girls weep in the aisles sporting a bald head and bad teeth in his portrayal of legendary gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson and his search for the American Dream. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) Marijuana, Ecstacy Throwback to the Cheech and Chong-era with guest cameos, hallucinations, inept cops and a whole lot of pot references, this small, low budget film could almost serve as a cautionary tale against the side effects of drug usage--anybody who really wants White Castle has obviously had their judgment clouded. Honorable mentions: The Man With the Golden Arm (1980); Strange Brew (1983); Repo Man (1984); Withnail and I (1986); Barfly (1987); Naked Lunch (1991); True Romance (1993); Dazed and Confused (1993); Friday (1995); SLC Punk! (1999); The Beach (2000); Boogie Nights (1997); Half Baked (1998); Permanent Midnight (1998); Trainspotting (2001); Ray (2004); A Scanner Darkly (2006) --Dean Carrico - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I did not inhale. OK. Maybe I did. Nearly half of all students admit to getting high, but few adults currently do drugs California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was filmed puffing a joint after winning Mr. Olympia in the 1975 documentary Pumping Iron. Former New York Mayor Marion Barry was reelected despite being caught smoking crack cocaine by FBI surveillance. Presidential candidate Barack Obama has been up front about the fact that he snorted cocaine and smoked marijuana. (Heck, he just quit smoking cigarettes.) As for Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, well, you know Past drug use of course isn't just limited to politicians. Scores of musicians (Dylan and the Beatles, Marley and Iz), have used drugs, so have famous writers (Stephen King, Hunter S. Thompson), athletes (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Phil Jackson) and business leaders (Bill Gates, Steve Jobs). In a society where drug use is glorified in the media, where our country's leaders have admitted to using drugs, where our best and brightest have experimented and gone on to succeed (Apple's Jobs said that doing LSD was one of the two or three most important things he has done in his life), convincing children they need to just say no is tricky. Not to say that every high school freshman who has a Bob Marley poster up in his bedroom and who has watched The Wizard of Oz while listening to Dark Side of the Moon will end up on the streets doing things behind dumpsters that nobody wants to talk about. Consider these figures: * 49.1 percent of college students have used marijuana during their lifetime (2005, Office of National Drug Control Policy) * 57 percent of young adults ages 19--28 have used marijuana during their lifetime (2005, ONDCP) * 48 percent of all young people have used illicit drugs (2006, Monitoring the Future) * 16.6 million adults (an estimated 5.3 percent of the population) ages 18 or older currently use illegal drugs (2003, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) This last figure is particularly interesting, especially when you consider figures from the Monitoring the Future study at the University of Michigan. The program has surveyed 50,000 high schools across the United States about their drug use annually since 1975. According to Monitoring the Future: * 55 percent of 12th graders surveyed in 1975 had used illegal drugs * 66 percent of 12th graders surveyed in 1981 had used illegal drugs * 41 percent of 10th and 12th graders surveyed in 1991 had used illegal drugs * 48 percent of 10th and 12th graders surveyed in 2006 had used illegal drugs So what are we to make of these figures, which show that nearly half of all high school students over the past 30 years have used drugs, but only a measly 5 percent of adults currently use drugs? Drug use among the young is not only common, it's practically the norm. Then again, so is the desire to quit using drugs as those youngsters get older. Simply put: Young people use drugs, and then they grow up. They get jobs, they get married, they have babies, they pay mortgages, they plan for retirement. In essence, life happens. And drugs no longer fit in the picture. - --Travis Quezon, with additional reporting by Chris Haire - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman