Parents, experts divided on school drug testing

Surprisingly, preliminary research by Levy and colleagues indicates that drug testing is so susceptible to both tampering and misinterpretation, even in the hands of reputable medical professionals, that merely talking to kids would likely garner more information — and more accurate information — than random drug testing.

“The people asking the questions need to have training but … kids do answer these questions. There’s no doubt. Will everyone tell the truth? Of course not,” says Levy. “But when you sort of give it over to drug testing and say, ‘Now, I want to see a negative test,’ they’ll find a way to give you a negative test.”

Leading experts on adolescent drug use bring up another disconcerting issue: There are comprehensive education and outreach programs that have scientific studies indicating that kids who go through them do fewer drugs, but there is no scientific evidence that suggests random drug testing has a similar impact. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration maintains the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, a database of proven drug-prevention programs. Random drug testing is not included in this database.

Dr. Linn Goldberg, a researcher at Oregon Health and Science University, likens testing to a doctor prescribing an experimental blood pressure medication instead of one that has been proven effective. He and other drug abuse experts say that the message that drug prevention is evidence-based and certain programs work has not been heard. Instead, billions of dollars have been squandered on programs without scientific merit that do not work (e.g., D.A.R.E., the Just Say No ad campaign and, possibly, random drug testing).

INTERACTIVE A look at how heroin, cocaine and other drugs affect the body

“Why would you ever say, ‘We know something that works, but let’s try something that we don’t know works’?” says Goldberg.

Proponents on both sides are undoubtedly well intended, but we may soon have a long awaited piece of evidence to give credence to one group. Goldberg says his team is crunching the data collected from a two-year randomized controlled study of schools with and without random drug testing. He’s now preparing for publication.

Don Stewart, superintendent of Penn Manor School District in Lancaster County, Penn., believes there’s no time to waste. “I like [drug testing] because it says we are willing to do all it can to prevent kids from throwing away their lives with drug use.”

His district is in its second year of random testing, and for now, anecdotal evidence is enough for him. Last year, with random drug testing in place, Stewart says only about one-third the number of students were referred for drug-related judicial review compared to the previous year in his district. “I’m not saying we’ll see the same thing this year or that there’s necessarily a cause and effect relationship,” he admits. “I don’t have empirical data. Still, implementing drug testing speaks to what our community stands for. We don’t turn our backs on a problem.”

The youngest Stratmann boy agrees. As long as the testing is done with an emphasis on helping kids and their families, says 14-year-old Joe, why not?

Victoria Clayton is a freelance writer based in California and co-author of "Fearless Pregnancy: Wisdom and Reassurance from a Doctor, a Midwife and a Mom," published by Fair Winds Press.

MORE FROM KIDS AND PARENTING

Kids and parenting Section Front

Mozart’s music may help preemies gain weight   Letters to Santa full of chuckles, but also tears Celebrating the holidays when Mom or Dad are deployed DNA snafu turns some kids into nonstop eaters Are you having an affair ... with your baby? U.N.: $24 billion could slash infant, maternal deaths Heavy kids may suffer from severe back pain Bane of this mother's existence: Cold coffee, warm beer CPSC chief: Agency moved too slowly on crib safety Largest crib recall in U.S. history announced Kids and parenting Section Front   Add Kids and parenting headlines to your news reader: