BEATING THE TEST

Your March 23 editorial ("School drug tests and student rights") argued
that constitutional protections do not necessarily apply to children. The
U.S. Supreme Court will review the Tecumseh Public School District's
drug-testing policy on constitutional grounds, but there are compelling
health reasons to oppose the invasive policy as well.

Student involvement in extracurricular activities reduces 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.

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 and methamphetamines are
water-soluble and exit the body within a few days.

If you think students don't know this, think again. Anyone capable of
running a search on the Internet can find out how to thwart a drug test.
Why is this relevant? Because the growing use of ecstasy is partly a result
of drug testing. A student who takes ecstasy Friday night will likely test
clean Monday morning. Ironically, the least dangerous recreational drug
(marijuana) is the only one whose use is discouraged by testing. Drug-test
profiteers do not volunteer this information, for obvious reasons.

ROBERT SHARPE

Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, D.C.