DRUG TESTING TO SAVE TEENS

"I don't think that student drug testing is necessarily the answer to all
the problems . . . It's another arrow in the quiver for us in education to
help parents." - Salem Schools Superintendent Herb Levine

It's a rare and fortunate family who can detect, intervene, and resolve a
teenager's drug addiction with no outside support, even from the teen's
school where, hopefully, he spends the bulk of his day.

Surely Herb Levine, who knows something about kids, would have found out
early on that his son was addicted to OxyContin, or better yet, kept him
from getting hooked in the first place, if he had any way of doing so.

Drug testing, Levine says, would have helped his son and can help other
parents. So Salem, along with New Bedford, is leading the way in
establishing drug testing programs in high schools to complement early
education and intervention programs available to younger students.

The Romney administration, to its credit, has picked up that ball and run
with it as part of a comprehensive substance abuse strategy quarterbacked
by Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey. Drug testing with parental consent, expanded
treatment and alternative high schools for recovering addicts are the key
elements.

The Supreme Court cleared the way for testing of students involved in
extracurricular activities without parental consent, but Healey argues
convincingly the state's more collaborative approach is better. "Part of
what is wrong is the lack of parental involvement and concern about these
issues."

But anyone assuming Healey's drug strategy is all sweetness and light would
be way off base. "We're talking about using science-based programs, not
D.A.R.E. or wishful thinking," she said.

Opponents are already lining up at the prospect of Johnny having to pee in
a cup in the nurse's office, even if Johnny's mom or dad asks for the testing.

"We think you have to develop approaches that work and respect kids'
rights," an ACLU staff attorney told the Globe.

Rights? We'll take teens alive and angry at their buttinsky parents any day.