'JUST SAY NO' TO DRUG TESTS

On June 27, the Supreme Court ruled that a state's responsibility for
maintaining discipline, health and safety in children outweighs the Fourth
Amendment guarantee of reasonable grounds for search and seizure.

The court, in a 5-4 vote, upheld the Student Activities Testing Policy
adopted by the Tecumseh, Okla., School District, which required all middle
and high school students "to consent to urinalysis testing for drugs in
order to participate in any extracurricular activity."

With this decision, a portion of America's youth have been stripped of a
fundamental constitutional right. Moreover, such drug testing is quite
likely to discourage participation in activities that have been proven to
be effective drug prevention tools.

Fortunately, school districts can "just say no" to authorizing random drug
tests without probable cause that a drug violation actually exists. There
are many good reasons to make this decision.

Research shows that participation in extracurricular activities helps
reduce student involvement in risky activities, such as drug use, by
reducing their after-school free time. Extracurricular activities are also
shown to lessen the drop-out rate and reduce incidence of juvenile crime.

Many teens say that if random drug testing is initiated, they would quit
these valuable programs. This is not because they use drugs and are afraid
of being caught, but they simply object to the arbitrary wielding of power
by the school system. They rightfully ask why they are being singled out
when their teachers and administrators are free of such testing.

Taxpayers may well ask if the enormous cost of individual drug testing --
$30 or more per kit per child -- is worth straining school district budgets
and if this allocation will compromise the goal of a well- rounded
education for their children. Extracurricular activities are traditionally
vulnerable at budget crunch times.

My hope is that school districts will realize that random drug testing does
not address the No. 1 drug that school kids use -- alcohol -- and that it
can alienate a group of teens who are a valuable future resource for our
society.

Nine out of 10 students experiment with alcohol before graduation from high
school. Many of these experiences result in inebriation and high- risk
behaviors with regard to driving and sexual activities. Some students will
advance from experimentation to dependence to addiction.

My hope is that existing alcohol, tobacco and nicotine prevention money
will not be diverted to drug-testing kit purchases. "Pee tests" (as kids
call them) do not test for alcohol use; nor do they usually test for
steroid or nicotine use, all incredibly harmful substances used by many teens.

My hope is that we will use "drug-testing" money to test those kids whom we
have a real reason to believe have substance abuse problems. And that, when
identified, we will use added funds for treatment of both the student and
family.

My hope is that as a society we will come to realize that alcohol, tobacco
and other drug use by teens is simply a reflection of adult values. Our
kids mirror the unhealthy behaviors in which the larger society engages on
a day-to-day basis.

While it is surely good to have drug-free schools, it is equally important
that families and communities also be drug free. Healthy growth for
children begins with adults modeling appropriate behaviors.

Note: The entire statement of the Supreme Court ruling can be found on the
Internet at www.supremecourtus.gov