SCHOOL DRUG TESTING ISN'T THE BEST ANSWER

The Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai'i applauds Sen. Robert Bunda's passion
in proposing school drug testing as a means to combat substance abuse among
our youth. However, the cure may be worse than the disease.

Putting the responsibility on the schools for drug testing will further
burden teachers and administrators already struggling with our children's
academic achievement and personal development.

Further, the cost of drug testing may deflect monies better spent on
after-school programs with proven drug-prevention results.

And random drug testing raises constitutional issues that will be
challenged for a long time.

A cost-effective strategy is parents and other family members who take the
time to find out what their kids are doing and with whom. We can do a
better job of supporting our families.

Let's be anti-drug and not anti-kid.

Alan Shinn