RANDOM SELECTION

Some Students Say Drug Testing Policies Don't Work

Buhl High School senior Ashley Wilson doesn't play in the band, sing
with the choir, run track or represent her class on the student
council. Cheerleading is out as well.

Participating in sports or extracurricular activities would be great,
Wilson said, but she doesn't want to undergo a random drug test.

Drugs aren't the problem. The testing procedure is. Wilson, 17, would
rather pass up the perks of high school life than undergo a drug test.

"I just don't want to have to pee in a cup," she said. "I don't like
doing it, never have, even at the doctor's office. I don't use drugs,
but since I won't sign up for the random testing at school, I can't
participate. Period."

More than a dozen Magic Valley schools randomly drug test students as
a condition for participating in extracurricular activities. School
officials say the programs are curbing drug use.

Some students tell a different story.

Many students say the programs are driving down participation in
programs from sports to band and are doing little to curb drug use.
Some even say the testing policies are backfiring and steer youths
toward heavy drugs or alcohol.

While many students indicate their schools' pee-to-play policies are
fair, some of those who participate question whether the testing is
worth it.

"Drug use at our school is huge," said Buhl senior Jackie Moreno. "I
don't think randomly testing students for drugs has really dropped
drug use at school."

Students in Twin Falls agree. "Since students only get tested if they
participate, they'll quit band instead of quitting the drugs," said
Kaylee Gorman, a 17-year-old student at Twin Falls High School.

The relationship between drug use and extracurricular activities is
difficult to gauge.

According to the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, students
who participate in extracurricular activities are 49 percent less
likely to use drugs. Those who don't participate are more likely to
drop out of school, become pregnant, join gangs or engage in other
risky behavior.

Some students, however, say drug users continue to participate in
extracurricular activities - slipping under the radar of school
officials by beating the tests. They use harder drugs that leave body
earlier or abuse drugs that won't show up on a test.

"I think people are just doing more bad drugs, like meth, because it
leaves the system sooner," Gorman said. "Instead of using drugs, like
smoking pot, students just drink because they aren't tested for it."

Students are also skeptical of how "random" the drug testing really is
and say that while confidentiality is promised, it's obvious to all
when a test is positive.

"How can it be confidential when the student is suspended from the
sport or activity if they test positive?" questioned Mike Willard, an
18-year-old senior at Buhl High School. "Plus, some students seem to
be picked all the time, while others aren't ever picked for a drug
test. I don't think the tests are as random as they say they are."

Buhl's principal, Mike Gemar, said the program is working, though
there is a lack of quantitative data to prove his claim.

"I've had kids tell me that by having random drug testing it gives
them an out, a reason to say no," Gemar said. "I've never had a
student refuse to take the test - they know they have to in order to
play, its part of the process. Sports, as with extra-curricular
activities, are not a right,a?"they are aa?"privilege, and students
must earna?"that privilege to participate."

While Kayla Urrutia, a 17-year-old Twin Falls junior, supports random
drug testing, she said the procedure makes her uncomfortable.

"I'm like, the least likely student to use drugs. I'm really involved
on the student council, cheerleading and just signed up to be part of
the Idaho Drug Free Youth organization. Even so, when I was called for
a random test, I felt like I wasn't trusted and they wanted to catch
me doing something bad," she said. "When I was called in for my third
test it was frustrating, but still worth it. I knew I didn't have
anything to worry about."

Nevertheless, most students who talked with the Times-News say the
policies are backfiring and that participation - not drug use - is on
the decline.

"I wish every student could be drug tested, regardless of whether they
participate in stuff or not, because the number of participants in
sports and other activities has gone down," said Jameson Bastow, 17, a
Twin Falls senior. "If everyone was pre-screened maybe they would get
clean, stay clean and get back to being involved."

Other students called for testing only when drug use was suspected -
and to include school faculty, as well.

"Everyone should be tested, teachers and all because students aren't
the only ones impacting what goes on at the school," Gorman said.