FUTILITY OF DRUG TESTING

Regarding the March 1 letter "Drug tests for lawmakers":

I have to disagree. If a business owner believes that screening out users
of certain drugs will help his bottom line in some way, he has every right
to do that. Of course, that's not what's happening in the real world. In
the real world, the Drug Free America Foundation hawks its drug-free
workplace program to businesses using federal funding and insurance breaks.

The only comprehensive cost analysis that I know of was done by the U.S.
Postal Service, and it found that drug testing failed to deliver on any of
the promised benefits (just like DFAFs other darling, DARE).

Remove the artificial incentives to drug testing (and, if you don't mind,
please start with the ones paid for with my tax money) and let the idea run
its natural course just as witch-dunking and leaching did.

Ginger Warbis, Lighthouse Point

LAWMAKERS RELUCTANT TO DRUG TEST THEMSELVES

Some ask why legislators might be a bit reluctant to pass a law mandating
drug tests for themselves. Perhaps it is because a 98 accuracy rate would
find two to four legislators to be "druggies," even though they were, in
fact, clean.

With positive test results, the proposed legislation would allow lawmakers
to "receive counseling." Meanwhile, the average Floridian who fails such a
test, with or without just cause, will lose his employment and oftentimes
be exposed to law enforcement intervention.

As the proponents of "a drug-free America" rail on, we watch with
bemusement, and the pharmaceutical companies erect new stores all over
Florida -- many with liquor stores attached.

Stephen S. Heath, Clearwater