TESTING DEGRADES STUDENTS

Regarding the March 24 editorial "Justices' adult decision," student
involvement in extracurricular activities has been shown to reduce drug
use. Forcing students to undergo degrading drug tests as a prerequisite
will only discourage such activities.

Drug testing may also compel marijuana smokers to switch to harder drugs to
avoid testing positive. Despite a short-lived high, marijuana is the only
drug that stays in the human body long enough to make urinalysis a
deterrent. Marijuana's organic metabolites are fat-soluble and can linger
for weeks. Harder drugs like cocaine, meth and OxyContin are water-soluble
and exit the body within a few days.

The most commonly abused drug is almost impossible to detect with
urinalysis. That drug is alcohol, and it takes far more lives every year
than all illegal drugs combined.

Instead of wasting money on counterproductive drug tests, schools should
invest in reality-based drug education.

Robert Sharpe

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, DC