| On July 22nd the US Deputy Drug Czar, Dr. | | | | The adolescent brain is not formed, drugs can |
| Bertha Madras spoke about random student drug | | | | make them addicted at a much higher rate than |
| testing in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii. There was an | | | | other people using. We have to protect our kids. |
| all-day summit on student drug testing at the | | | | Weigh privacy against the rights of a child to have |
| Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The topic- Random | | | | a healthy development!" |
| Student Drug Testing. | | | | In 2002 the Supreme Court ruled that testing is |
| Drug usage in schools can turn into abuse, then | | | | legal for kids engaged in extra-curricular activities. |
| addiction. This traps kids in a vicious cycle that will | | | | The Supreme Court is behind protecting our kids. |
| ruin their lives along with destroying their families. | | | | We live in an era where we know drugs are easy |
| The most effective tool we have is Random | | | | to obtain, and we know kids are willing to try new |
| Drug Testing in schools! Not necessarily for the | | | | things- especially if their friends are trying it as |
| fact that we will catch the occasional drug user, | | | | well. Drugs have become a problematic part of |
| but more importantly, prevent new ones from | | | | society, especially in schools where peer pressure |
| using! If kids know they may have a chance to | | | | and other factors have helped fuel the fire. As a |
| be tested, they will think twice before trying | | | | result, sales of home drug testing kits has, in fact, |
| drugs. | | | | been more common as drug experimentation |
| Our US Deputy Drug Czar was not able to enjoy | | | | becomes more rampant among students. |
| the beautiful Hawaiian islands, as she was put to | | | | The purpose of the meeting in Hawaii was to give |
| work from the moment she got off the plane. Dr. | | | | parents, educators, and the general public info on |
| Madras also believes that random testing is the | | | | how to implement a program and what the legal |
| best form of prevention. Privacy of the kids was | | | | issues are that surround it. It was also to verify |
| the main issue that was brought up to Dr. Madras. | | | | that help is out there, and the US Government is |
| Madras replied with, "Under the influence of drugs | | | | willing to help with grants and funding to schools |
| an intoxicated kid can get into accidents, can fail | | | | to implement a program. The parents need to |
| at school, can get into violence and delinquency, | | | | encourage schools to implement a program to |
| and do a whole shopping list of terrible things to | | | | protect their kids! |
| themselves. And they could also become addicted. | | | | |