DRUG TESTS COST STUDENTS

Re: "Let's clean up problem before it's too late," by U.S. Rep. Kenny
Marchant, Sunday Letters.

Mr. Marchant's call for increased random student drug testing is naive. He
uses the Taylor Hooton tragedy as justification, but Taylor probably would
not have been helped by such a program because these are random tests given
to only about 10 to 15 percent of students each month.

He should have been helped by coaches, counselors, nurses and teachers.
There are fewer of these in schools that must divert funds to random,
"suspicionless," drug-testing programs.

Parents are free to test their children if they suspect drug use. Their
classmates should not have to pay for the tests with larger class sizes,
fewer teachers, less equipment and less time in class.

Suzanne Wills, Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas