DRUG TESTING OF STUDENTS

State Senate President Sen. Bobby Bunda became the center of attention at
yesterday's opening of the Legislature. His remarks on revisiting a light
rail commuter train system for O'ahu drew the most attention.

Senator Bunda also announced he is for drug testing of Hawai'i's high school
students. In an interview given Tuesday, Bunda said a main key to rooting
out the drug dealers and drug suppliers in Hawai'i is to find out who they
are through the users. Unfortunately a number of those users are apparently
high school students.

Bunda cited such a program that's working in a Louisiana school district.
Dade County in Florida is also doing student drug testing.

Attacking Hawai'i's serious drug abuse problem needs to be aimed at this
young generation. If not controlled now the problem could be beyond control
in future decades.