Drug Tests May Require Lab Analysis

Drug Tests May Require Lab Analysis

The New Jersey State Board of Education is considering regulations that would require schools with random student drug testing programs to use state-licensed laboratories. However, a federal official said recently that the more costly state-licensed labs aren’t needed and would deter random drug-testing programs.

The state board heard testimony last week on proposed regulations for random drug testing programs. NJSBA is aware of 20 school districts with such programs. Most rely on initial screening by school nurses, and use state-licensed labs if positive results are found.

The state board is expected to formally adopt regulations on this issue in October.

Opponents of the proposal to use only state-licensed labs say testing programs would become more expensive and would ultimately discourage schools from implementing drug testing. Laboratory tests cost about three to five times more than screening by a school nurse.

Schools Need Flexibility Dr. Bertha Madras, a deputy director in the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told the State Board of Education at its July 18 meeting that maintaining flexibility and not using a “one size fits all” approach is the reason programs have succeeded. She added that many districts use school nurses to conduct drug tests, and those programs have worked for more than a decade without problems.

Rosanne Scotti, director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a New York-based organization seeking changes in current drug-prevention strategies, support the proposal by saying children would be better protected with a more reliable test conducted at state-licensed facilities.

Legislation enacted in August 2005 called on the State Board of Education to write regulations for drug-testing programs. NJSBA supported the legislation, which did not mandate that state-licensed facilities be used in testing. NJSBA believes districts should have the choice to implement random drug testing, but the state Department of Education should address the issue of additional mandated costs.

Board members seeking more information may contact Maureen Shea of NJSBA’s Governmental Relations Department.