AN ALTERNATIVE TO DRUG TESTING - EVERYONE SEES ACTION

A controversial proposal regarding the drug testing of athletes in our
high schools has been the subject of several Signal articles. Cary
Quashen, founder of ACTION Family Counseling, a successful drug
intervention program for teens and their families, supports the notion
and has offered ACTION's assistance. A committee appointed by the
William S. Hart Union High School board of education interviewed
coaches, administrators, teachers and parents. Many of those
interviewed were concerned with the limited scope of the testing (only
students engaged in high school extracurricular activities),
transgressions of individual and parental rights, repercussions from
positive or false tests, and the effectiveness of such a policy. Sean
Herron, the student representative on the Hart board, wrote a
compelling piece discussing why he and many students are against
random drug testing.

I am not sure that drug testing is the deterrent some board members
are hoping for, but I do believe that implementation of such a policy
could lead to a series of controversial dilemmas. If nothing else, the
fact that only students involved in extracurricular activities would
be targeted, due to a Supreme Court ruling, is seen as unfair by
parents and students alike.

On the other hand, I definitely believe that the availability of both
legal and illegal substances is a temptation to many people,
especially those under age 21, who are unprepared to handle it.
Therefore, I appreciate that the Hart board is discussing this problem
in open forum.

Substance abuse is a problem that can only be reasonably addressed by
recognizing the historical trends that contributed to the problems we
face today. The existence of drugs is nothing new, but the easy access
is. We also must face the fact that modern life has changed the
landscape of childhood. Although each generation has had crosses to
bear, children in America are experiencing life at an accelerated
pace, and many are having a difficult time coping with all that is
thrown at them. It does not surprise me that many young people are
tempted by drugs.

The steady rise in drug and alcohol abuse and our awareness of it has
been escalating since the late 1960s. I vaguely remember being exposed
to the evils of marijuana (remember "Reefer Madness"?) in my high
school health classes, but at that time, alcohol was the drug of
choice for teens at my school. Adults didn't encourage their children
to drink, but America's prohibitionist voices had long been silent.
Growing up, drinking was a socially acceptable adult activity - many
parents went to cocktail parties, comics routinely portrayed
falling-down drunks, and adults often turned a blind eye to drunk
driving. In the 1970s, Mothers Against Drunk Driving began changing
society's attitudes and treatment of drunk drivers, but doctors were
beginning to routinely prescribe anti-depressants and amphetamines to
our middle-aged parents. Somehow, there was the belief that medically
prescribed psychotropic drugs were OK, while marijuana and the entire
field of street drugs was deemed dangerous and illicit.

As far as I'm concerned, any mind-altering drug can be dangerous. The
medical establishment and pharmaceutical corporations understand the
dangers of mixing or misusing drugs, yet it is not uncommon to read of
accidental overdoses. Heath Ledger's tragic death should be a wake-up
call for all of us. Ledger may have been cavalier in his drug use, but
his death was avoidable. Suffering from pneumonia, sleeplessness, and
no doubt stressful work schedules, he was prescribed a multitude of
medications. Having had pneumonia, I know how debilitating it can be.
What he needed was recuperation time and someone who made sure that he
was eating and resting properly.

His autopsy revealed that five legal drugs contributed to his death.
These included three anti-anxiety medications and two sleeping
sedatives. Believe it or not, all of these medications have been
advertised on television.

How many of you were shocked when pharmaceuticals began marketing
their products on television? I remember the cartoon stomach on the
Alka-Seltzer commercials. It obviously influenced me. Even though my
parents never bought it, I remember trying Alka-Seltzer at our
friend's house (without consulting my parents) after a particularly
bountiful Thanksgiving. Yuck! It was worse than an upset stomach.
Today, children who watch television are exposed to the premise that
any and all problems can be remedied with a pill.

Many doctors resort to writing a prescription because it offers relief
to their patients. If a patient asks about a specific medication (one
that he has seen in commercials) is the doctor more apt to write a
prescription? How many of us are guilty of wanting a quick fix for
chronic back pain, insomnia or weight loss? One can't blame the
medical profession entirely; and certainly, many doctors are cautious
when prescribing medications. Unfortunately, parents are often
surprised to learn that their kids have raided their medicine cabinets
or become addicted to prescription pills purchased on the street. In
my opinion, the medical community over-medicates children. Taking a
pill becomes part of their habit life. I went through mumps, measles,
and chicken pox. I remember the doctor coming to my house, but I was
never given any medication - except when my eardrum ruptured. In the
last 25 years, more and more children are being medicated for a range
of medical as well as behavioral symptoms manifesting as
hyperactivity, inattentiveness, or oppositional defiance.

We cannot plead ignorance to the fact that children as young as 9
years old are at risk for drug or alcohol addiction. Yet I believe
that many families are caught off guard when they realize that their
children are abusing drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse affects
everyone: the abuser, the family, society.

Intervention programs such as ACTION are essential in every community,
but I would suggest that programs like this are offered and attended
by all families and their teens - no exceptions. Better than drug
testing, this offers every family an education and an opportunity to
discuss the reality of substance abuse - before a problem occurs and
in a safe environment. Teens will hate this, but tough!

Leigh Hart is a Santa Clarita resident. Her column reflects her own
views, and not necessarily those of The Signal. "Democratic Voices"
appears Tuesdays and rotates among several SCV Democrats.