RANDOM DRUG TESTS AN EFFECTIVE PREVENTION TOOL

The Miami Coalition, like most anti-drug prevention and education
specialists, doesn't view random, school drug testing as a quick fix or
silver bullet to eradicate substance abuse among our youth.

We agree with the column by Dr. Gwen Wurm, Court ruling on drug testing is
wrong (July 19, Otherviews), that the age-old problem of drugs is an
ongoing battle that is difficult to wage, and that after- school care is a
factor to be explored in prevention.

However, we feel that random drug testing is one of many prevention tools
that can help stem the tide of drug use.

This has proven to be the case among adults in drug-free workplace programs.

The idea of stopping drug experimentation is worth pursuing, and our own
kids are telling us so. Our Priority One school survey of Miami- Dade
middle and high-school students shows that 79 percent of local students are
willing to take a lab test to demonstrate that they don't use drugs.

We shouldn't find this surprising. The study also shows that teen drug use
has declined by 31 percent in our community since 1995.

The decline outpaces national trends, which continue to see encouraging
results as well, as recently reported in the National Parents' Resource
Institute for Drug Education survey.

The facts need to be restated: Most of our kids don't use drugs, don't want
to and are willing to prove that they don't by their willingness to be
drug-tested. They figure that they have nothing to hide and everything to gain.

Bernie Diaz

Director of Communications, Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Community

Coral Gables