RANDOM DRUG TEST IDEA FLAWED ON MANY LEVELS

The editorial from The Fayetteville Observer, "Random drug testing
needed in our schools," (AC-T, Dec. 13), promoting drug testing of
students, is flawed in more ways than can be described within the
limits of a letter to the editor. One indisputable statement in the
editorial is this sentence: "Protecting young people from drugs
requires more than a drug test." However, the arguments for drug
testing as part of a prevention program are either flawed or
fallacious. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has published a
guide for parents, educators, and community leaders that sets out 16
principles for effective prevention programs. These principles are
based on drug abuse programs that have demonstrated efficacy in
reducing alcohol and other drug use. Drug testing does not address
these principles, nor is it included in the design of programs that
have demonstrated the ability to reduce drug use.

This guide is available on the Internet at
www.drugabuse.gov/pdf/prevention/RedBook.pdf. This should be
mandatory reading for anyone who wants to reduce drug use among
students. Another source for evidence-based programs is the NIDA
website: www.niaaa.nih.gov. Promoting drug abuse strategies that do
not work squanders resources that could be dedicated to programs that
actually do reduce drug use among our nation's youth.

Norman G. Hoffmann

Waynesville