NOW, DRUG TESTING IN BALDWIN, MOBILE

The U.S. Supreme Court has, once again, approved random drug testing for
public school students. These experienced and informed justices recognize
how serious the drug problem is in our country, and they are correct in
recognizing that random drug testing prevents, deters and detects drug use.

School system leaders in Mobile and Baldwin counties need to openly debate
the costs and benefits of random drug testing children. The dollar costs
are high, but the deterrent benefits are enormous and long lasting.

Many of our local private schools test their students. They report that the
programs have been successful. Drug use is down and morale is high because
the kids are no longer hiding their illegal habits.

The only way we can keep drugs out of our communities is by recognizing the
seriousness of the problem (in some areas of Mobile as many as 50 percent
of the children report using illegal drugs) and facing it head on. It is
estimated that more than 8,000 children in our area frequently use illegal
drugs.

Let's do the right thing and keep our kids drug free. Let's start drug
testing our kids in public schools.

GEORGE E. KRIETEMEYER, Mobile