MANDATORY DRUG TESTS GIVE KIDS A PEER PRESSURE 'OUT'

Reading the articles on urinalysis testing brought back memories of my
duty as a drug and alcohol counselor in the US Navy from 1980- 1989.
We used urinalysis testing extensively during that period to bring the
drug problem under control. I listened to the same arguments posed in
the recent letter columns. We still did the testing and they still do
the testing and there is very little drug use detected today.

More important, many young sailors came to me when we first started
the testing and said ``Thank You'' for giving them another tool to use
against peer pressure to use drugs. Now they could say to their
friends that they hadn't been tested recently and were not going to
take a chance. I suspect that there are some kids around here who
would like to have that tool in their tool box when ``Just say no''
isn't enough.

We also wore uniforms in the Navy and as someone who wore them for
thirty years I can assure you that you can express your individuality
in uniform. You just can't be outrageous about it.

Lighten up folks. Listen to a copy of the old Big Crosby record
``Accentuate the Positive'' and then do it.

John Morton,
St. Augustine