DRUG TESTING FOR STUDENTS WORTH TRYING

If Miamisburg's school board votes to allow drug testing of some high
school students, the district will be in a minority.

That won't make it wrong.

Nationally, the vast majority of schools don't test students for
drugs, mostly because of cost. But Miamisburg administrators say they
have a growing drug and alcohol problem, and they think testing would
discourage some kids from drinking or using illicit drugs.

A 16-member committee has been talking about what to do since April,
and it has drafted a proposed policy that's thoughtful and
comprehensive. (Read it at miamisburgcityschools.org.)

The plan reflects the advice of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy in big and small ways. For example, that White House agency,
which encourages testing in schools, preaches that treatment should be
the goal over punishment and that schools have to involve their
communities from the beginning when considering a testing plan.

Miamisburg's policy wouldn't test everyone, which some courts have
held to be too sweeping. Rather, it focuses on students involved in
extracurricular "privileges" -- sports and band. Parents of students
in these activities would have to consent to their child possibly
being randomly tested or being asked to give a urine sample when
school officials suspect any kind of abuse. In the latter case, a
principal or his designate would have to agree that there was good
evidence for requiring a test.

The program is designed to pay for itself by requiring students to pay
$20 to $25 to participate in the sports and band programs. Supporters
know better than to propose taking money away from classrooms for an
effort that probably will catch only a few students.

In other communities, drug testing hasn't identified large numbers of
kids with a drug or alcohol problem, but some people believe testing
does deter abuse. They argue that the threat of being tested -- and
losing the right to participate in the fun stuff -- gives kids an
excuse to say no.

Miamisburg's proposed policy includes punishments. In-season first
offenses would mean you're out for the rest of the season; if the
violation occurs out of season, a student couldn't participate in 20
percent of the next season's activities. A second offense would result
in a suspension for a year in any extracurricular activities;
extracurricular privileges would be lost permanently for a third offense.

In all cases, a counselor, parents and other school personnel are
involved and treatment is required.

Drug testing isn't right for every school. Some, for instance, can't
afford the testing or impose the cost on their struggling families.
Some schools may be so small they don't need urine samples to know
when kids are abusing substances.

But when a community has evidence that its traditional ways of
spotting and discouraging drug and alcohol abuse aren't working, it
should be able to try other tactics. Maybe the testing wouldn't even
be needed for long.

There's nothing wrong with telling kids they're being watched closely
and that there are ways to catch them breaking good rules.