A REASON TO SAY 'NO'

Conducting Random Drug Tests of Certain High School Students Is a
Reasonable Policy If It Serves to Deter Students From Engaging in
Unhealthy Behavior.

Conducting random drug tests of certain high school students should
make people a little uncomfortable. Such tests are intrusive and
heavy-handed. But given the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse
among teens and the deterrence value of testing, maybe being a little
uncomfortable is the price we have to pay.

The Arrowhead School Board voted last week to initiate such a policy
at Arrowhead High School, making it only the second high school in
Waukesha County to randomly drug test students. The idea is not to
play Big Brother to high school kids but instead to "detect and
deter; give kids a chance to say 'no,' " according to Superintendent
Craig Jefson.

The idea is that faced with random tests, students can resist peer
pressure by using the tests as an excuse not to take drugs, smoke or
drink. That's a reasonable goal.

Officials at Pewaukee High School, which started a drug testing
program in 2004, argue that testing works. Principal Marty Van Hulle
told us last week that he is still a big supporter of the program.
"Absolutely," he said. "Things are going very well with our program.
It's still a big success."

Van Hulle says the testing sends the message that the school is
concerned about drug use by students and that it wants to help them
avoid temptation. Also, "it reminds our student athletes that they
are held to a higher standard and that they serve as role models."

The Arrowhead program, similar to Pewaukee's, applies to students
involved in competitive activities where they represent the school,
such as athletics, so long as the activity is not required as part of
a credited course. That would mean about 25%, or approximately 600,
of the school's students could be eligible for testing each year.

Tested substances would include alcohol, nicotine and tobacco
products, marijuana, opiates and amphetamines. Positive results
could lead to discipline under the district's athletic code as well
as parental notification and treatment referrals.

The annual cost of the program is estimated to range from $10,000 to $12,000.

We understand the civil liberties arguments against random drug
testing, and no one wants too much government intrusion in private
lives. But this kind of testing is not too much. It is, in Van
Hulle's words, simply "reasonable and practical."