Pubdate: Sat, 30 Mar 2002
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2002, The Tribune Co.
Contact:  http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Robert Sharpe
Note: The writer is program officer with Drug Policy Alliance.
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n555/a09.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG EDUCATION

Regarding your editorial "Drug Testing In Schools Should Be Sensible" (Our 
Opinion, March 22): Student involvement in extracurricular activities has 
been shown to reduce drug use. They keep kids busy during the hours they 
are most prone to getting into trouble. Forcing students to undergo 
degrading drug tests as a prerequisite will only discourage such activities.

Drug testing may also compel marijuana smokers to switch to harder drugs in 
order to avoid testing positive. Anyone capable of running a search on the 
Internet can find out how to thwart a drug test. Drug testing profiteers do 
not readily volunteer this information, for obvious reasons.

The most commonly abused drug is almost impossible to detect with 
urinalysis. That drug is alcohol, and it takes far more student lives every 
year than all illegal drugs combined. Instead of wasting money on 
counterproductive drug tests, schools should invest in reality-based drug 
education.

ROBERT SHARPE, Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager