GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND SCHOOL DRUG TESTING PROGRAM

WASHINGTON -- Sixteen-year-old Garrett Dush says he doesn't take drugs and
wouldn't mind being tested for them at school under a program being
championed by President Bush. But Garrett's father, Cris Dush, is concerned
about how his son, a high school sophomore from Brookville, Pa., or other
students would be selected for testing.

"It'd have to be random," says Cris Dush, who works at a state prison
outside of Brookville, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. "If the kid
is going to feel targeted ... I wouldn't want that."

The idea of steering America's kids clear of drugs has broad support. But
the $23 million White House plan to increase testing in schools is drawing
sharp criticism from some parents, school administrators and civil
liberties activists. $21 million expansion Bush's plan, unveiled last week
in his State of the Union speech, would expand a $2 million program that
last year funded drug testing in eight school districts. A Supreme Court
case in 2002 upheld the authority of schools to test students who
participate in extracurricular activities, like sports teams.

Federal guidelines under which those students are tested have been kept
deliberately vague to give schools and communities broad discretion. But
Bush and his drug policy director insist test results be kept confidential.

"The aim here is not to punish children, but to send them this message: 'We
love you, and we don't want to lose you,'" Bush said.

Privacy a concern Word can still get out, according to some administrators
as well as critics. That's troubling to civil liberties groups who say
children who need help could end up in jail instead.

"They're saying this is to help, not punish," said Ethan Nadelmann,
executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance in New York, which fiercely
guards against government privacy violations and questions the
effectiveness of drug testing. "But it always starts with that. And
inevitably, the next shoe to drop is: 'We need to punish people in order to
help people.'"

Understanding consequences In most cases, students who test positive are
sent to school counselors instead of doctors for intervention and
treatment, said Julie Underwood, general counsel for the National School
Boards Association. For the most part, she said, schools "are real good
about student privacy," but word of a positive drug test can still get out.

"Students probably know," Underwood said. "For many school administrators,
it may not be a concern, because part of the total picture is making sure
that students understand the negative consequences of drug use."

She said it's unlikely that school districts shield all positive drug tests
from the law.

But to student Garrett Dush, that doesn't matter much.

"I don't think you have to worry about it if you're not doing it," Garrett
said. "So it wouldn't be a big deal if any of your friends found out your
test results."

Sidebar

Drug Testing

Eight school districts and community projects are sharing $2 million in
federal funds to begin testing students for drugs:

Autauga County, Ala., through nonprofit group The Noble Idea, Inc.: $84,004.

Auburn City Schools, Auburn, Ala.: $276,836, to share with schools in
Opelika City and Lee County school districts.

Polk County, Fla.: $236,080.

Nelson County, Ky.: $284,203.

Jefferson Parish, La., Public School System, through the 24th Judicial
District Attorney: $176,842.

Hunterdon County, N.J., through the Bethesda, Md.- based The Walsh Group:
$401,241.

Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Rockville, Md., for eight
unspecified high schools: $346,775.

Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Texas, Independent School District: $157,022.