DRUG TESTING STUDENTS A SUCCESS - ON THE SURFACE

The use of random drug tests at several private schools has
dramatically cut drug usage among students, say principals. But a drug
agency says drugs remain a problem among young people and the lack of
positive tests might mean students were adept at confounding the results.

Several private schools using random urine tests on students who have
a history of taking illicit drugs claim to have recorded almost no
positive results in up to four years of testing.

The headmaster of St Andrew's Cathedral School, Phillip Heath, said up
to 10 students had been subject to random tests in the past four years
and none had returned a positive.

But Mr Heath said he was not so naive to believe there was zero usage
among his students.

Reddam House, where students are selected to give on-the-spot tests by
a randomised computer program, have conducted just two tests in four
years because it "didn't seem necessary to test any more", said
director Graeme Crawford.

Reddam has used its anti-drug stance as a marketing tool in its
attempt to carve out a niche for itself as an alternative to
established eastern suburbs schools.

Mr Crawford said the fact that only one student had tested positive
showed testing had rid the school of illicit drugs.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of NSW
doubts testing stopped drug use, and suggests it may just drive it
underground.

The centre's information manager, Paul Dillon, said given the
statistical prevalence of drug use among teenagers it would be a "very
foolish person who believed just because they have random drug testing
in schools it eliminates drug use".

"Cannabis is used by a third of high school students. If you have a
school that all of a sudden doesn't have any cannabis use, that is
pretty amazing and the world would want to know why," he said.

Geelong Grammar, the first school in Australia to introduce drug
testing, is also claiming success with its approach, citing the fact
the "one or two" students who had shown up positive out of dozens
tested had left the school.

The NSW Department of Education, responsible for more than 2200
government schools, has a policy of suspending a student found
possessing illicit drugs and advising police and the child's parents.

The department's policy requires students to take part in a "targeted
intervention program".

Other schools wrestling with the drugs issue include StIgnatius'
College Riverview, which from next term will test any student
identified as having a "drug habit or serious problem".

The headmaster, Shane Hogan, said the policy acknowledged the need to
give a second chance to boys caught experimenting with drugs, although
anyone caught supplying drugs would be asked to leave the school.

"If we say we want a boy to take a drug test, what we are saying is
you are being given a second chance but you have to work with us," Mr
Hogan said.