TESTING TO CATCH 'WEEKEND STONERS' NOT WORTH IT

Who cares if athletes use steroids?

It's a performance enhancing drug, but an athlete using steroids is no
different than any of us drinking coffee. It gives them a boost. Steroids
may even make the games more interesting.

The side effects include shrinking testicles, impotency, acne and
anti-social aggression. I think people trying to be better athletes can
decide if they will accept the consequences.

We let people deal with high blood pressure, stomach problems, restless
sleep and drug addiction associated with coffee if they choose to.

It's the same argument you get when you compare alcohol and cigarettes to
marijuana. Marijuana is an intoxicating herb that has some dangerous
qualities. However, the risks associated with its use are the same or less
than we allow for other substances.

In addition, I cannot think of a more degrading invasion of someone's
privacy than drug testing. For what? A positive doesn't indicate current
use or intoxication.

Researchers on a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that
school drug testing had no impact on drug use.

Another study of high-tech industries found both pre-employment and random
testing to be associated with lower levels of productivity.

In other words, for all the expense employers and schools go through to
humiliate us, they decrease morale and productivity just to catch a few
weekend stoners and pumped-up athletes.

Sounds like a bum deal to me.

David Burdick

Aberdeen