SUMMIT EXAMINES STUDENT DRUG TESTING

Feds Encourage Use; Alliance Skeptical

ALBANY - The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is
hoping to persuade local school districts and educators to randomly
drug test students.

Advocates say it provides students a "credible reason to say no to
drug use," while opponents question its wisdon and
effectiveness.

Dr. David Murray, chief scientist for the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy, said Wednesday at a meeting at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel that random drug testing achieves a healthier and
more productive school environment. He also said it's a powerful
prevention and intervention tool.

Murray said it is a misconception that it's a way to punish students
who use drugs.

"This is non-punitive. We are doing it to identify students who need
help," he said.

In fact, Murray said, it's a way to prevent adolescents from using
drugs in the first place. He said substance abuse leads to violence,
school failure and sexually abusive behavior, disrupts classrooms and
is self-destructive.

"It's crucial to address drug use among adolescents between the ages
of 12 and 18," said Murray. "The earlier drug use starts, the deeper
the dependence on the drug later in life."

About 100 people attended the summit, including representatives from
the Albany and North Colonie school districts and others.

A voluntary drug testing program that's privately funded started
several years ago in the Amsterdam school system, and now it includes
the middle and high schools.

Amsterdam Superintendent Thomas F. Perillo said, "It is done totally
randomly. It has nothing to do with discipline or academics. It's
worked out well at the middle school and high school."

Perillo said students in middle and high school receive packets and
their parents have an option to sign off on it. For Perillo, the key
is that parents provide consent. It's obvious the parents are
concerned about their child's drug use and voluntary testing is a
deterrent for the students to use drugs, he said.

Opponents of random student drug testing who attended the summit
voiced concerns. The Drug Policy Alliance said studies have shown that
drug testing is ineffective.

"Drug testing breaks down relationships of trust," said Jennifer Kern,
youth policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance.

Kern said all credible research on substance abuse prevention points
to eliminating sources of alienation and conflict among young people,
their parents and schools, not creating them.

Other opponents say random drug testing violates an individual's
personal rights. Murray said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that
drug testing is not a violation but must be done confidentially.

"School Law," a book on state education law published by the state
School Boards Association and state Bar Association, said that school
districts in New York may test students for the use of illegal drugs,
but only with the written request or consent of the parent.

If parental authorization is obtained, the law permits urine testing
of students in grades seven to 12, and the tests must be conducted
without notice to the student. A positive result must be reported to
social service authorities and the parents but cannot be used for
police purposes.

The state Education Department does not take a position on drug
testing of students, according to spokesman Jonathan Burman.

The New York State School Boards Association does not monitor which
school districts are doing random student drug testing.

More than 4,000 schools in the country have already begun their own
random testing program.