Congressmen Advocate Random Drug Testing of Public School Students
by Jim Brown and Jody Brown
January 28, 2004
(AgapePress) - A Pennsylvania congressman has introduced a bill aimed at reducing student drug use. The measure would provide funding to public schools that choose to randomly test students for drug use.According to a new study just released by the Manhattan Institute, about 40% of high school seniors in both urban and suburban public schools in the United States have used illegal drugs, and upwards of 20% of them have driven a vehicle while they were high on drugs. The same study also found significant alcohol abuse among 12th graders in those schools -- approximately 70% have tried alcohol more than two or three times, about 60% drink without family members present, and roughly one in five have driven while drunk.
In light of such prevalent drug and alcohol abuse among older public school students, three House Republicans have come forward in response to President Bush's call for a student drug-testing initiative. Last week, John Peterson of Pennsylvania, Tom Osborne of Nebraska, and Mark Souder of Indiana introduced a bill that would provide $25 million to schools that choose to use drug testing to fight the scourge of drugs.
Read the text of the "Empowering Parents and Teachers for a Drug-Free Education Act of 2004"
Congressman Peterson believes student drug testing is protective rather than punitive. "The problem is that the drugs today are literally almost pure, and they're cheap," he says. "Cocaine, heroin, and [methamphetamines] are the three most powerful -- and they're everywhere."
The Pennsylvania lawmaker notes that many communities in his district have a serious heroin problem. "The problem is that young people only have to use these [drugs] sometimes once or twice or a few times, and they're addicted -- maybe for life -- because of the potency [of the drugs] and because they're pure," he says.
According to Peterson, random testing is a reason for kids to say "No" to drugs. He maintains that such testing is effective -- "it's worked in every place it's been utilized" -- and that it has the support of some well-known, successful coaches.
"Tom Osborne [former head football coach at the University of Nebraska] is a strong supporter," he says. "And the last time I was with Joe Paterno [head football coach at Penn State] he told me, 'Don't you let up on proposing drug testing. I've been testing football players, and it is the one way I can keep my kids drug-free.'"
The objective of H.R. 3720, the congressman explains, is to encourage parents to encourage their school boards to develop a plan of action where they will have the goal of a drug-free school.
Peterson says contrary to what groups like the ACLU allege, student drug testing is not an invasion of privacy. The proposed legislation is not a federal mandate, and it prohibits disclosure of test results to law enforcement.
