Pubdate: Fri, 10 Aug 2012
Source: Sunshine Coast Daily (Australia)
Copyright: 2012 APN News & Media Ltd
Contact:  http://www.thedaily.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4590
Author: Caroline Hutchinson

SCHOOL DRUG TESTS NOT FOR EVERYONE

IS it just me or is everyone happy to be drug- and alcohol-tested at
work?

I couldn't care less, provided they do it on their time and their
dime, they can go for it. And over the years I reckon I've worked with
people it might have helped.

'Big Brother' came to high school this week, when the head of the
exclusive Southport School announced a plan to randomly drug test students.

Headmaster Greg Wain braved the media adamant he was trying to save
kids, not expel them. "The bottom line is nothing else seems to be
working. If someone could come up with an education program or a scare
program that works, I wouldn't be going down this path."

There was a time kids attended expensive private schools to keep them
safe from teen perils, but it seems those days are gone and if the
head of school considers it necessary to drug test then parents should
listen.

I'll be honest; I don't really want random testing of kids across the
board. Not because I'm sensitive to their human rights, simply because
I don't want to pay for something unnecessary.

I hate drugs. I've told you before I grew up in a druggie town. My
entire high school cohort had a crack at marijuana, a small number
fell into the abyss and 25 years later have lost everything to their
habit. But that's the point; it's a small number that falls victim to
substance abuse. Most kids in high school do not use drugs.

Before I had teenagers I read articles about teen pregnancy,
disrespect, violence, booze or drugs and got worried. I don't any
more. I honestly believe that outside a rogue element, this generation
of teenagers is no more unwieldy than ours or many that came before.

Of course parents have to be vigilant; so do teachers. We know young
people experiment with drugs. We just shouldn't get overexcited. Kids
are largely okay.

I am sure teachers and principals are on the lookout for warning signs
of drug abuse and try to manage suspicions case by case. I know they
have the right to drug test students and I hope they do.

If I was a parent worried about my child's absence at weekends or bad
mood on Tuesdays (as opposed to every day of the week), then I'd love
the school to get involved. I just don't think it should be across the
board.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt