JUST SAY NO

The 10 top reasons why the Supreme Court should vote to support student
drug testing:

Adam, 18, deceased.

Mark, 24, deceased.

Garrett, 22, deceased.

David, 26, deceased.

Billy, 17, deceased.

Cooper, 22, deceased.

Ian, 21, deceased.

Angela, 18, deceased.

Michael, 22, deceased.

Stephanie, 19, deceased.

The parents of these young people believe their children might still be
living had their school systems supported their parental message of "no
drugs" by drug testing the students.

Seven of the 10 died of heroin overdoses, two died from cocaine, and one
died in a drug-related accident. All of their parents believe the children
started drug use by smoking marijuana.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), more than
16,000 young people die of drug overdoses every year. ONDCP conducted a
study of more than 2 million death certificates and determined that the
total number of drug-related deaths exceeds 50,000.

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently hearing a school drug testing case to
determine if schools are required to show drug and alcohol use before
testing. We believe that public schools should not be required to show drug
or alcohol use by students prior to implementing random testing. We believe
the need to deter drug use by all students and protect their safety is
cause enough to uphold random drug testing.

Recently, Congress included a provision (Section 4115) in the Education
Bill to allow states and local jurisdictions to use Safe and Drug-Free
Schools funds for student drug testing.

Other reasons for student drug testing would include: violence, dropouts,
school underachievement, teen pregnancy, teacher safety, classroom
disruption, keeping drug dealers off school property, and the expense of
supporting "alternative schools" to educate drug-using students (Fairfax
County operates more than 30 alternative schools to accommodate students
with drug, alcohol and various delinquent problems).

Joyce Nalepka,
President Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge Silver Spring