Message to state lawmakers: Allow random drug testing

Student drug testing has worked well for nearly a decade in Warren County. It’s a shame to think the program could be suspended because of a recent opinion by the state attorney general.

The opinion points out a problem with Warren County’s current policy that randomly drug tests students in grades 7-12 involved in extracurricular activities. The program’s random nature violates a Tennessee statute that says drug testing should only be conducted if probable cause is present.

According to Tennessee law, a school principal can drug test a certain student if there is a reasonable indication he or she is using drugs. However, a principal can’t randomly pick three players from the football team to drug test.

While this may be a puzzling statute, it’s also one that can easily be changed by state lawmakers when they return to Nashville in January. The General Assembly passed over 100 new laws this past session. There’s no reason to think this statute can’t be modified and made to include random drug testing ‘ provided state officials believe it’s the right thing to do.

The Standard believes it is and we’re hopeful this is a law that can be changed to allow the school system’s random drug testing program to continue in years to come. Based on the recommendation of school board attorney Michael Galligan, it appears likely Warren County’s drug testing program will have to be suspended, at least for the upcoming year.

If the program is in fact suspended, the newspaper is encouraging a change in Tennessee statute to allow random drug testing to resume in 2008-09.

To put it in simple terms, the program makes sense. As parents, we don’t want our children to take drugs. If random drug testing is a deterrent, we’re all for it.

If random drug testing can provide help for a student just starting to experiment with drugs, we’re all for it.

If random drug testing can alert parents their child is using drugs, we’re all for it.

For a decade, you could say this is a program that has been producing positive results. There’s no reason for lawmakers to allow it to be taken away.