Drug-test drawbacks discussed at Mid-Pac
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
There is no evidence that random drug testing of students deters drug use, and in fact such screening may do more harm than good, a group of Mid-Pacific Institute parents were told last night.
About 50 parents gathered in the school's Bakkan Auditorium to hear experts discuss the drawbacks of voluntary drug screening programs. The school earlier held two meetings to discuss the benefits of testing, but opponents called last night's meeting to discuss the other side.
Mid-Pacific Institute is a private college-preparatory school in Manoa with an enrollment of 1,320 students. Officials are considering implementing the state's first voluntary school drug testing program.
Under the proposal, middle and high school students at MPI would be tested only if they and their parents agreed. Urine samples would be taken from randomly selected students and the testing company would notify only parents of the results.
Because the school would not be given the results, there would be no consequences at the school for failing a drug test, parents have been told. School officials have said they hoped to start the program in January.
Supporters, including city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who has a child attending MPI, and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, said a benefit of the program would be to help students fend off peer pressure to use drugs. Students can easily reject offers of drugs by citing their parents' signing them up for the program, they said.
But the experts present last night said there have been no scientific studies that prove such programs work. Pediatrician Robert Bidwell said these programs also don't test for alcohol, one of the more commonly abused substances.
Bidwell added that if parents are the only people told of the results, one danger is they may not know what to do if their child tests positive. Testing also can create resentment between parents and child, he said.
"Is the school going to provide resources to the families?" Bidwell said.
Parent Gerald Brouwers said students should make their own decisions on whether to take drugs, rather than telling their peers that they can't use drugs because they may be tested.
"What you want is for the child to internalize their sense of who they are, what their strengths are, what your values are," Brouwers said. "My biggest concern with this program is we're saying the reason that you can give for not using drugs, it isn't because you have a good sense of yourself, but there are these external things that you can give as an excuse."
Lerisa Heroldt has two children at MPI and said the school has not released details of the program. Heroldt, an attorney, said she doesn't believe there are guarantees that test results would remain confidential.
She said the school should not rush to implement the program, especially in the middle of an academic year. Heroldt urged the group to contact the administration to express its opposition.
Rich Schaffer, principal of MPI's high school, told the parents that Mid-Pacific is "leaning in the direction" of implementing the program, but he said a final decision has yet to be made.
Schaffer said he would take the parents' concerns to MPI President Joe Rice.
The proposed Mid-Pacific program is patterned after one at San Clemente High School in California. But Katherine Irwin, a University of Hawai'i professor of sociology, told the group last night that there is no evidence that the program is working.
Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.
