DRUG TESTING GIVES GUIDANCE

As a parent and a professional who works with teen-agers in the Conway
area, I have followed the current debate over drug testing with close
attention.

My perspective is shaped by two different roles. The first is my counseling
training and 15 years of working with young people, teen-age culture,
families and, on some occasions, drug-addicted youth. The second is what I
have learned from my high school children. My children do not attend Conway
schools. They attend a school in the area that has a random drug-testing
policy for extracurricular activities.

Random drug testing sends a good message to teens in a manner they will
hear. Random drug testing will motivate teen-agers in a way that is
meaningful to them. Programs aimed at educating teens are only partially
effective. Most teens are very aware of the normal consequences of drug
usage. They simply feel it will not happen to them. It will only happen to
other people. Therefore, "drug education" programs have only minimal impact.

Likewise, programs aimed at communicating how "uncool" drug usage is are
not very effective. Drug users usually isolate themselves into a subgroup
of youth who resist the values of society and challenge what society says
is acceptable behavior. As long as they have their subgroup, they do not
care that society says it's "uncool." These common motivations are usually
not compelling.

However, for those involved in extracurricular activities, the threat of
losing that activity is a compelling force. Drug testing would motivate
youth in a manner that is influential and real to teens.

The area pediatricians are worried about marginal kids who are uninvolved
in extracurricular activities. Random drug testing will not help those
youth. Since they are not involved, they will not be tested. They will not
feel the pressure to avoid using drugs. The ones who will be helped are the
borderline involved youth who could be easily swayed into drug usage, but
with this little bit of extra motivation will be able to resist. Since most
drug users begin in their teens, keeping them clean through their high
school years is a great help.

Finally, my perspective has helped me realize one other fact about random
drug testing. Again, my children attend a school and are involved in
extracurricular activities where they have random drug testing. It is no
big deal to those in their school. As a rule, it is a non-issue. It does
not trouble them, they scarcely think about it.

A couple of generations ago social pressures helped teens avoid many
perilous behaviors. In the past quarter century many of those social
controls have been removed, leaving teens to navigate every decision with
their own limited experiences and wisdom. In fact some of those forces
themselves have become avenues for attacking parental guidance and cultural
values. Parents need to step up and give guidance, and give voice to
values. Random drug testing will do this. It will be good for the school
system and good for the community.