SCHOOL DRUG TESTING PROGRAM SHOULD CONTINUE

A new report on teen substance abuse begins with the ominous title of
"A Day in the Life of American Adolescents."

True to its theme, the survey shows that drinking and drug use are a
common occurrence for many young people in our country. The study by
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
estimates that on any given day in 2008, 563,000 adolescents used
marijuana, nearly 37,000 used inhalants, 24,000 used hallucinogens,
16,000 used cocaine and 2,800 used heroin.

As an overview, the study goes on to estimate that almost a third of
adolescents aged 12-17 drank alcohol during the year and a fifth used
an illicit drug. It also notes that in 2008, there were a quarter of
a million drug-related emergency hospital visits by adolescents.

Unfortunately, the figures were not much better or worse than the
year before. This is the world our teens live in -- even in the
Tri-State -- and the reason prevention programs are so important.

The Cabell County school district has concluded its second year of
limited drug testing for students. Those in the pool for random
testing include teens playing sports, those driving to school and
some who volunteer for the program.

The number of incidents of students testing positive dropped from 23
to 19, about 5 percent of the 380 tests given. The decline is
encouraging, but it should be remembered this is coming from a group
of students who know they are likely to be tested.

It also was encouraging that there were no middle school students who
tested positive in the first year the program was expanded to include
those students.

Students are not disciplined the first time they test positive, but
their parents are alerted and they must submit to retesting. However,
a second offense can result in suspensions from sports or driving and
monthly testing. A third offense would mean suspension for a calendar year.

In the first two years, the program was funded with grant money, but
that runs out this year, and the school board will be faced with
whether to spend its own money on the testing.

We urge them to continue the program. It sends the right message to
students and parents, and hopefully discourages drug and alcohol use
- -- at least at school.