SCHOOL-BASED DRUG TESTING FOSTERS INTEGRATED APPROACH TO PREVENTION

Take a moment to think about our island's progress against substance
abuse. With all the different agencies, drug-prevention programs and
federal funding on island, it seems that our island's battle with
substance abuse has not been affected in any way. I'm not saying
these agencies and programs are useless, because they really are
important resources. What I'm saying is that we need a more strategic
prevention program that is effective.

We know that substance abuse may begin as early as 12 years of age
based on statistics, yet what have we done about it? Well, I have the
answer: "Absolutely nothing!" We are failing our youths! We know
they're using (drugs) but why aren't we doing anything about it?

For several years, we have been using outreach and (promoting)
awareness to prevent our youths from (using) drugs. Obviously, this
tactic isn't going to cut it. It's going to take more than just
talking to a bunch of students. We have used this approach for
several years and have not seen any dramatic decrease in drug use
within our youths. This approach is not working and it's about time
we take a look at alternative approaches.

I believe that a more effective drug-prevention program would be a
program similar to a school-based drug testing program, but with a
little adjustment. School-based drug testing programs in the United
States basically test students who participate, as well as volunteer,
in school activities, with parental consent. We need a similar
program that not only tests athletes and students participating in
school activities, but a program that integrates all students. If we
randomly tested high school students who are considered at-risk, we
would have the ability to detect drug use and create an intervention
plan for each student. This program seems effective because it serves
as a primary prevention as well as a secondary prevention. It works
as a primary prevention by deterring all students away from drug use
based on the possibility of being detected. In today's "system,"
there are no strings attached to drug use. If implemented, the
possibility of being tested would be in the back of their minds and
will make them think twice before using. It also serves as a
secondary prevention by identifying those using drugs and planning an
intervention for these individuals.

It's going to take a lot of hard work to get a program up and
running, but it seems worthwhile. This is just one alternative that
can be used as an approach to drug prevention. Now, it's up to the
entire community of Guam -- island professionals and island leaders
- -- to decide whether we are going to continue on the same track we
are headed, or take a turn with a new approach to a more effective
drug-prevention program. For those who are opposed to this approach,
I challenge you to think of a more effective approach.

Brian Enriquez is a senior majoring in social work at the University
of Guam and a resident of Yigo.