A NEW SCHOOL YEAR MEANS IT'S TIME FOR DRUG TESTING

The new school year brings new teachers and football season - prime time for
personal drug tests in the Rapides Parish School District.

About 50 percent of randomly selected student athletes must submit a urine
sample for the drug test without notice. This also is the first school year
that any student involved in any extracurricular activity is subject to a
random drug test.

Dr. C.L. Washington with Central Louisiana Medical Laboratory has all of
those students listed by Social Security numbers (not names). He will
randomly pick half to get a urinalysis this year.

Traces of amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, PCP, opiates, benzodozepines
(like Xanax) and barbiturates will show up in the test if any of the drugs
have been imbibed in the last five to seven days.

About 25 percent of all district staff and all new hires also will be tested
for the same substances this school year. All new bus drivers and about 50
percent of the rest of the bus drivers will be drug tested, and 10 percent
also will be tested for traces of alcohol.

Washington said few test positive each year, partly because most students
and staff are aware that random drug tests might be right around the corner.

Last year, no bus drivers or staff members tested positive. Only one out of
about 700 student athletes tested positive for marijuana last school year.

"These are people not likely to use because they want to participate,"
Washington said. "Not many test positive because this program sends a clear
message to these kids that if you want to play sports and be in
extracurricular activities, you've got to be drug free."

Washington said his company also tests employees and students at Holy Savior
Menard Central High School. Those tests are more extensive hair tests, which
pick up drug traces from up to 90 days before the test.

Principals with "reasonable suspicion" that any student is on drugs can call
the district's Safe and Drug Free Schools program to request that Washington
conduct a urinalysis. The student's parent must consent to the test.

Washington said principals called on him about 75 to 100 times last year to
test regular students and only two tested positive.

Students who test positive for drugs face no punishment from the school
system. Expulsions are only handed down to students in possession of drugs
and the Supreme Court has ruled that drugs inside a student's body does not
constitute "possession."

"The point is not to punish these kids, but to get them some help,"
Washington said.

When student athletes and staff are tested at the schools, Washington
interviews them to find out what prescription drugs might be in their
systems that may show up in the test results. He also makes sure that
everyone tested has picture identification. If a student does not have a
picture identification, two others must identify who the person is to avoid
any fraud.

Many of the tests, including those of students in extracurricular
activities, are federally mandated.

School Board members are not subject to the random drug tests because
elected officials are exempt, Washington said, although he noted some
Rapides Parish police jurors had voluntarily taken the test.

Washington's company serves various other public agencies in the area,
including other school systems, the Rapides Parish Police Jury employees,
parish fire fighters and district drug courts.