Lake Stevens student drug tests catch two

LAKE STEVENS — Lake Stevens High School caught just two students using drugs after starting a drug-testing policy a year ago and a third refused to take the test that was given to 300 students, according to school district records.

School officials believe the policy — one of the few administered by school districts across the state — is making a difference. The test is given only to students who participate in extracurricular activities.

“It’s an important layer in what we do. For some kids, it has been critically important,” said Steve Pitkin, the school’s prevention and intervention counselor. “It really has been an important addition, but it is only an addition.”

Last year was the first year Lake Stevens High School began testing students involved in activities sponsored by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which includes sports, cheerleading, music, drama and debate. More than half of the students participate in a sport or activity over the course of a year.

The school has expanded the drug tests this year to include steroids.

The American Civil Liberties Union in Seattle opposes the Lake Stevens policy, maintaining it violates the privacy protections of the state constitution for a public school district to do drug testing without individual suspicion that a student is using drugs.

“Our view of suspicionless drug testing has not changed,” said Doug Honig, an ACLU spokesman.

The Lake Stevens School Board supported drug testing after students said in surveys that they were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana in increasing numbers and perceived adults as unconcerned. Those numbers dropped 3 percentage points to 4 percentage points across the board under a state health survey given to students after the policy took effect.

“I think there are a lot of kids who secretly are glad the policy is there to give them tools to say, ‘No,’” Principal Ken Collins said.

Students are chosen by their student identification numbers, not names, and a parent is on hand to observe and make sure the testing is random.

Those chosen must give a urine sample, which is analyzed by technicians with LabCorp of Seattle.

Students who test positive continue to attend classes. They face a 23-day suspension from their extracurricular activity and must get a professional assessment and enroll in a program if that’s what’s recommended.

Amanda Thomas, 17, a Lake Stevens High School senior, said she believes the policy made a difference last year.

“A lot of people changed their minds,” Thomas said. “They weren’t sure what to expect. They didn’t want to lose their chance of playing.”

Some students have been surprised to learn that the policy allows students to be tested over a year, not just during the season they are participating in a sport. In other words, a student competing in track last spring is still subject to the drug testing this fall.

Drug testing alone is not the answer, said Pitkin, the school’s prevention and intervention specialist.

The school also has a student assistance program in which teachers, parents and others can anonymously refer a student for any of a number of reasons, such as academic performance, poor attendance, troubled relationships, behavior or suspected drinking or drug use.

A team that includes counselors, a teacher, the school nurse and an administrator help design an assistance plan. Students aren’t obligated and can decline the services.

Very few students Pitkin sees come from drug tests. Most are from referrals within the school, from the students themselves or from disciplinary infractions.

The ACLU has two legal challenges under way to policies in other school districts in Washington state.

Blanket drug testing of students is illegal. But the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public schools can require students to take drug tests as a condition of participating in sports or other optional programs.

The Lake Stevens School District also tests students at its alternative Prove High School for drug use as a condition of enrollment. It started testing at Prove in fall 2005.

The Granite Falls School District used drug tests for athletes and cheerleaders at Granite Falls High School during the 1997-98 school year before abandoning the practice because of legal advice and the threat of a lawsuit.

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