TESTING STUDENTS FOR DRUGS WRONG APPROACH FOR SCHOOLS

In the war on drugs, trust was an early casualty.

In the 1980s, many federal employees were forced to undergo drug testing as
a condition of employment, and the practice since has become common in
state and local government, and in the private sector as well.

Now an anti-drug activist has proposed that students at Brevard County
public high schools be tested as a condition of engaging in extracurricular
activities such as sports, band or clubs.

It's a bad idea.

Illegal drugs are a major threat to young people in our society, but that
risk does not justify sacrificing the liberties of a large population
merely because the group happens to be made up of minors.

It's understandable that Ken Braid, a former Melbourne Beach resident who
now lives in Colorado, is passionate on the issue. In 1994, Braid lost a
16-year-old son to suicide after the boy, a sophomore at Melbourne High
School, had used steroids for several months.

Braid's untiring efforts against teen drug use are commendable.

Still, a program to routinely test students for illegal drug use probably
would do more harm than good.

Like adults, young people are entitled to both privacy and a presumption of
innocence.

Requiring that teens be tested for drugs before they could participate in
ordinary high school activities would infringe on fundamental
constitutional rights.

Lisa Kuhlman Tietig, the president of the Brevard County chapter of the
ACLU of Florida, has correctly described Braid's proposal as an invasion of
privacy, and said it isn't the School Board's place to conduct such tests.

Points well taken.

Local taxpayers, who would foot the bills, also should consider that such a
program could leave the school district vulnerable to lawsuits.

But perhaps the biggest risk of drug testing in public schools - or
anywhere else, for that matter - is that it can be used as a convenient
substitute for more in-depth approaches to dealing with the complex issue
of addiction.

Teens usually get involved with drugs, experts say, as a result of peer
pressure, anxiety and low self-esteem.

To counter those influences, young people need respect, trust and emotional
support - not a presumption of guilt in the form of a drug test.

(SIDEBAR)

School Board

School district offices - 631-1911

Bill Powell - 269-9888

Bea Fowler - 784-0120

Rich Wilson - 773-3344

Larry Hughes - 724-4203

Janice Kershaw - 733-5535