Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 Date: 03/31/1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Author: Gwen C. Berger In a letter printed March 29, Dr. James Hamilton asked: "Exactly what circumstances or situation make it acceptable or even reasonable for a high school student to use or be in possession of drugs?" Perhaps his definition of drugs is limited to the ones he writes on a prescription form and the illegal street drugs. The "zero tolerance" policies at high schools are not so limited in their scope. A student carrying aspirin or Tylenol for a headache or, heaven forbid, a girl having Midol or Pamprin in her backpack for cramps can be suspended and transferred to another school. No difference is permitted between these and "pot" or "crack" by most "zero tolerance" policies. Perhaps these are some of the reasonable circumstances or situations that Karen Wanberg was referring to in her letter of March 23 about the school policies. Gwen C. Berger Anaheim