DRUG TESTING WORKS

The commentary "Students find dialogue more effective than drug
testing" demonstrates several fundamental misunderstandings of modern
drug testing and based its argument on an outdated study that does
not, in fact, measure the effectiveness of random student drug testing
(The Forum,Monday).

Drug testing today is designed to help students, not punish them. In
much the same way that students must be immunized to protect other
students' health, drug testing helps prevent the disease of
addictionfrom spreading in our schools.

When used as part of a broad drug-prevention program, testing gives
students the armor they need to resist drugs. It also allows parents
and administrators to intervene confidentially with teens who have
just started using drugs and helps identify teens who have a drug
problem so their loved ones can assist them in getting help.

A number of studies have shown that random student drug testing can be
a powerful tool to deter teen drug use. Employers and other sectors
of society increasingly are adopting drug-testing programs because
they have seen the impressive results. During the course of 20-year
drug-testing program, drug-use rates among U. S. military personnel
have dropped from 27% to 3%.

Americans are relieved when they board a plane or put their children
on a bus, because the pilots and bus drivers are tested for drugs.
Why deny our children--the ones most susceptible to drugs--this
effective tool.

Brian Blake

deputy press secretary

Office of National Drug Control Policy

Executive office of the President

Washington