Drug testing students unacceptable

The American Academy of Pediatrics in its latest policy statement reports, "Drug testing poses substantial risks — in particular, the risk of harming the parent-child and school-child relationships by creating an environment of resentment, distrust, and suspicion."

Indeed, most physicians oppose the use of testing at home and in school, because: Test validity is only guaranteed when the collector witnesses filling of the cup. They warn that parents watching teens in the bathroom is unethical and developmentally damaging.

False-positive rates are very high. Poppy seeds read as morphine and/or codeine. Amphetamines show up with the use of some cold medicines. Local labs have confirmed the rate of false-positives greatly exceeds 25 percent and the test is unreliable.

The most popular substances, ecstasy, inhalants and alcohol, do not show up, and kids may opt for them instead. Yet alcohol takes more lives than any other drug. Ironically, results are likely to be negative most of the time for kids with even serious drug problems.

I believe education's mandate does not call for analyzing bladder contents. Urine testing is pushed by the President's Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Power, preemptive strikes, encroachment on human rights, and …tiny neurons…. Could we be going up the wrong tree? Police are on-site, drug dogs sniff lockers, yet drug use is on the rise?

It is time we to turn to approaches suggested by the Council on School Health. I am asking our caring and intelligent staff to find more innovative and objectively informed solutions. I deeply worry about the direction it is taking. We are sending contradictory, negative messages that lack respect and discourage communication. Guilty before proven innocent…. Why target motivated students? Why punish them by excluding them from the activities that may be their salvation?

Kids should be able to throw a ball without being scrutinized like airplane pilots. I am asking that you show your pride in students and continue to provide healthy friendly mentors in a joyful atmosphere. In my experience, kids who take part in extracurricular activities develop into successful, well-adapted adults. Part of their success stems perhaps from having been allowed to fall and get back up and, more importantly, from having been allowed to belong.

I read that some in the administration hope for the adoption of a school-wide testing policy. Please don't cross that line. Ask our school board trustees to vote against drug testing.

Marie Le Moyne-Rhodes lives in Whitefish.