RANDOM DRUG TESTS GETTING OUT OF HAND

COURT CASE: The Supreme Court ought to rule on random drug testing for
schoolchildren.

Drug abuse has long been out of control in our country, and it now seems
like mandatory drug testing is as well.

The Supreme Court has let stand a lower court ruling that allows schools to
randomly test pupils who are volunteering for sports and other
extracurricular activities.

The court will allow schools in three states - Indiana, Illinois, and
Wisconsin - to continue with the random drug tests.

Parents in those areas had sued, arguing that the drug tests invaded their
sons' and daughters' privacy.

Of course random drug tests are an invasion of privacy. We're not talking
about intervention programs when there's a suspicion of drug use.

Drug-testing programs have been established in other areas as well.

Many employers now require drug testing of new employees, and for the most
part, the newly employed accept the requirement without protest.

We don't inderstand why it's the business of a school or a business to test
for drug use in most cases.

Pupils or workers should be monitored on their performance, and when
telltale signs of abuse occur -they should be dealt with.

The obvious exception is in the case of those whose jobs involve public
safety.

Pilots, bus drivers, railroad engineers and the like all should be tested
routinely. Public safety depends on their sobriety.

But most students, office workers, and store clerks do not put the public
at risk.

There's no overriding societal concern about whether or not they abuse
drugs or alcohol - at least in terms of the public safety.

Certainly there is a concern on other levels about drug use. But are
random drug tests the best way to tackle the problem?

No. In one case, a freshman in high school volunteered to videotape the
football team.

The school wanted him to indergo a drug test, and the boy's parents
refused. The boy was barred from his volunteer work.

Drug-abuse experts agree that young people fhould be involved in activities
- - as an alternatixe to recreational drug use.

We should be encouraging children to get involved in sportts and other
activities.

Throwing impediments in ther way makes little sense. Schools should be
encouraging students to participate - not throwing up barriers.

Supporters of drug testing argue that getting tough against drugs is the
best strategy.

We agree that enforcment is, indeed, part of a complete strategy of
fighting against drug abuse.

But too often, random drug testing focuses on too many of the wrong people.

Instead of being made to feel like suspects, they should instead be
presented with prevention programs.

It's too bad the Supreme Court didn't immediately see the case as something
justices should consider.

The invasion of privacy is an important one, and a ruling from the highest
court in the land would have helped decide the issue.

Checked-by: Richard Lake