SACS DRUG TESTING WON'T BE A QUICK FIX

Southwest Allen County School board members seem to think that drug testing
will give students an excuse to say no to using drugs ("SACS approves
student drug tests," Jan. 19). But drug-testing students who participate in
after-school activities only gives at-risk students an excuse to say no to
joining activities in the first place. School officials should welcome
these students into the positive learning environments offered by
extracurriculars, especially during the critical hours between the end of
the school day and the time their parents come home from work. But this
plan simply pushes students toward the streets, where they'll be more
likely to experiment with drugs.

School board members should rethink their plan, which won't be the quick
fix for drug problems they think it'll be.

TOM ANGELL

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.