DRUG-TEST DRAWBACKS DISCUSSED AT MID-PAC

There is no evidence that random drug testing of students deters drug
use, and in fact such screening may do more harm than good, a group of
Mid-Pacific Institute parents were told last night.

About 50 parents gathered in the school's Bakkan Auditorium to hear
experts discuss the drawbacks of voluntary drug screening programs.
The school earlier held two meetings to discuss the benefits of
testing, but opponents called last night's meeting to discuss the other
side.

Mid-Pacific Institute is a private college-preparatory school in Manoa
with an enrollment of 1,320 students. Officials are considering
implementing the state's first voluntary school drug testing program.

Under the proposal, middle and high school students at MPI would be
tested only if they and their parents agreed. Urine samples would be
taken from randomly selected students and the testing company would
notify only parents of the results.

Because the school would not be given the results, there would be no
consequences at the school for failing a drug test, parents have been
told. School officials have said they hoped to start the program in
January.

Supporters, including city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who has a child
attending MPI, and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, said a benefit of the
program would be to help students fend off peer pressure to use drugs.
Students can easily reject offers of drugs by citing their parents'
signing them up for the program, they said.

But the experts present last night said there have been no scientific
studies that prove such programs work. Pediatrician Robert Bidwell
said these programs also don't test for alcohol, one of the more
commonly abused substances.

Bidwell added that if parents are the only people told of the results,
one danger is they may not know what to do if their child tests
positive. Testing also can create resentment between parents and
child, he said.

"Is the school going to provide resources to the families?" Bidwell
said.

Parent Gerald Brouwers said students should make their own decisions
on whether to take drugs, rather than telling their peers that they
can't use drugs because they may be tested.

"What you want is for the child to internalize their sense of who they
are, what their strengths are, what your values are," Brouwers said.
"My biggest concern with this program is we're saying the reason that
you can give for not using drugs, it isn't because you have a good
sense of yourself, but there are these external things that you can
give as an excuse."

Lerisa Heroldt has two children at MPI and said the school has not
released details of the program. Heroldt, an attorney, said she
doesn't believe there are guarantees that test results would remain
confidential.

She said the school should not rush to implement the program,
especially in the middle of an academic year. Heroldt urged the group
to contact the administration to express its opposition.

Rich Schaffer, principal of MPI's high school, told the parents that
Mid-Pacific is "leaning in the direction" of implementing the program,
but he said a final decision has yet to be made.

Schaffer said he would take the parents' concerns to MPI President Joe
Rice.

The proposed Mid-Pacific program is patterned after one at San
Clemente High School in California. But Katherine Irwin, a University
of Hawai'i professor of sociology, told the group last night that
there is no evidence that the program is working.