News (Media Awareness Project) - US MA: Students Take The Lead In Antidrug Talks |
| Title: | US MA: Students Take The Lead In Antidrug Talks |
| Published On: | 2009-07-05 |
| Source: | Boston Globe (MA) |
| Fetched On: | 2009-07-07 05:13:04 |
STUDENTS TAKE LEAD IN ANTIDRUG EFFORT USING AT-HOME TESTS
In Arlington, Athletes Urge Peers To Take At-Home Tests
In most schools, the message about drug prevention is sent from the
top down. Be it a school assembly, a class demonstration, or a guest
lecture, its usually the adults doing the talking.
Arlington High School is trying out a new method: Let the students
speak for themselves.
In May, athletic director Ted Dever asked five student-athletes to
help institute a new campaign created by First Check Diagnostics, a
Waltham company that produces at-home drug tests.
Let Me Prove It has students solicit peers to take home a free kit
and prove they are living a drug-free lifestyle. Some observers have
raised privacy and other concerns, but a number of local school
officials are enthusiastic about the program.
Im not naive. I understand that a lot of kids are out there doing
different things, Dever said. This is a way of saying, Hey, you
got a B in math, show your report card.
The program is just getting underway in Malden, but in Arlington it
has been embraced. The five ambassadors have recruited about three
dozen students to take the tests.
The ambassadors first take the tests and share the results with their
parent or guardian. Together, they sign a certificate saying the drug
test is negative and return it to the companys program coordinators,
who keep the results confidential. The student ambassadors in turn
encourage peers to self-test as well.
Theres more incentive to do it because its student-led, Dever
said. Their friends are doing it because they led them. It also
creates a positive relationship with the parent.
But others are skeptical about the program, questioning the validity
of the testing and whether students may feel compelled to tamper with
the results.
Its not so much a legal issue as it is a policy and healthcare
issure, said Sarah Wunsch, with the Masschusetts chapter of the
American Civil Liberties Union. Its not that the ACLU doesnt care
about the issue of teens using drugs and alcohol. This is a gimmick
that could have unintended consequences. I dont think its a good
idea; it serves more to promote the company.
For adolescents, she said, drug testing is the worst thing to do.
They think its an invasion of privacy. People who have studied these
issues suggest that if parents have concerns, they should be talking
to their . . . doctor.
Pat ONeill, an Arlington High senior who plays football and lacrosse,
said no one has objected to his canvassing attempts. Ive handed out
all 10 of my original tests, and Ive got a new batch, he said.
Its picking up steam.
Participants are given a three-step urine test that checks for five
prescription medications and seven illicit drugs, yielding results in
five minutes.
There is plenty of incentive, too. In addition to winning iTunes gift
cards, students who solicit the most peers are eligible to receive
college scholarships, ranging from $500 to $2,000 for the top
performers, provided by First Check Diagnostics.
To Dever, the idea made sense when representatives from First Check
approached him this spring. Having just completed his second year as
Arlingtons athletic director, following a tenure as a guidance
counselor at the school, his focus is often more about character than
wins and losses, he said.
When I interview a coach about a vacancy, or for an evaluation, the
first question is always, what can you do as a leader of youth to
combat drugs and alcohol, said Dever, who also coached Winchester
Highs boys ice hockey squad to the Super 8 semifinals this season.
Some, unfortunately, are not prepared to answer that question. Thats
more important to me than winning a state championship.
More students at Arlington are lining up to be ambassadors than
anticipated. The program was intended to be carried out by five
seniors, but Dever said he has a group of sophomores waiting to take
the reins.
The marketing manager for First Check, Kate Viniello, says the company
has targeted several area schools for the next year, including
Burlington, Somerville, Waltham, and Watertown. Were looking to see
how our pilot program goes, she said. But weve received a lot of
feedback.
Meanwhile, the program has just broken ground at Malden High School,
where one student has committed to being an ambassador while several
others are considering a request to take part. The program is being
handled through the guidance department, where counselors are on board
and have the backing of the administration.
Ive been doing work like this for 38 years, and Ive never been
approached before for a program like this, said George Lyons, a
student adjustment counselor at Malden High for more than three
decades. Theyre approaching it from a positive side, not a negative
side, and there are a number of kids that dont use. I think its well
worth a try, and were supporting it.
Said fellow counselor Van Huynh, Were praising the ones that are
doing the right thing. The principal supports us, the mayors office
is supporting us, we support the program even though its only a trial.
To Lyons, the program is something worth trying as an alternative to
past approaches, from annual visits by counselors to speeches from
prison inmates and lectures from former students about the recovery
process.
I think this might be a better approach, getting kids on board,
Lyons said. I think youll know within the year if something is worth
continuing, but we certainly support it.
In Arlington, Athletes Urge Peers To Take At-Home Tests
In most schools, the message about drug prevention is sent from the
top down. Be it a school assembly, a class demonstration, or a guest
lecture, its usually the adults doing the talking.
Arlington High School is trying out a new method: Let the students
speak for themselves.
In May, athletic director Ted Dever asked five student-athletes to
help institute a new campaign created by First Check Diagnostics, a
Waltham company that produces at-home drug tests.
Let Me Prove It has students solicit peers to take home a free kit
and prove they are living a drug-free lifestyle. Some observers have
raised privacy and other concerns, but a number of local school
officials are enthusiastic about the program.
Im not naive. I understand that a lot of kids are out there doing
different things, Dever said. This is a way of saying, Hey, you
got a B in math, show your report card.
The program is just getting underway in Malden, but in Arlington it
has been embraced. The five ambassadors have recruited about three
dozen students to take the tests.
The ambassadors first take the tests and share the results with their
parent or guardian. Together, they sign a certificate saying the drug
test is negative and return it to the companys program coordinators,
who keep the results confidential. The student ambassadors in turn
encourage peers to self-test as well.
Theres more incentive to do it because its student-led, Dever
said. Their friends are doing it because they led them. It also
creates a positive relationship with the parent.
But others are skeptical about the program, questioning the validity
of the testing and whether students may feel compelled to tamper with
the results.
Its not so much a legal issue as it is a policy and healthcare
issure, said Sarah Wunsch, with the Masschusetts chapter of the
American Civil Liberties Union. Its not that the ACLU doesnt care
about the issue of teens using drugs and alcohol. This is a gimmick
that could have unintended consequences. I dont think its a good
idea; it serves more to promote the company.
For adolescents, she said, drug testing is the worst thing to do.
They think its an invasion of privacy. People who have studied these
issues suggest that if parents have concerns, they should be talking
to their . . . doctor.
Pat ONeill, an Arlington High senior who plays football and lacrosse,
said no one has objected to his canvassing attempts. Ive handed out
all 10 of my original tests, and Ive got a new batch, he said.
Its picking up steam.
Participants are given a three-step urine test that checks for five
prescription medications and seven illicit drugs, yielding results in
five minutes.
There is plenty of incentive, too. In addition to winning iTunes gift
cards, students who solicit the most peers are eligible to receive
college scholarships, ranging from $500 to $2,000 for the top
performers, provided by First Check Diagnostics.
To Dever, the idea made sense when representatives from First Check
approached him this spring. Having just completed his second year as
Arlingtons athletic director, following a tenure as a guidance
counselor at the school, his focus is often more about character than
wins and losses, he said.
When I interview a coach about a vacancy, or for an evaluation, the
first question is always, what can you do as a leader of youth to
combat drugs and alcohol, said Dever, who also coached Winchester
Highs boys ice hockey squad to the Super 8 semifinals this season.
Some, unfortunately, are not prepared to answer that question. Thats
more important to me than winning a state championship.
More students at Arlington are lining up to be ambassadors than
anticipated. The program was intended to be carried out by five
seniors, but Dever said he has a group of sophomores waiting to take
the reins.
The marketing manager for First Check, Kate Viniello, says the company
has targeted several area schools for the next year, including
Burlington, Somerville, Waltham, and Watertown. Were looking to see
how our pilot program goes, she said. But weve received a lot of
feedback.
Meanwhile, the program has just broken ground at Malden High School,
where one student has committed to being an ambassador while several
others are considering a request to take part. The program is being
handled through the guidance department, where counselors are on board
and have the backing of the administration.
Ive been doing work like this for 38 years, and Ive never been
approached before for a program like this, said George Lyons, a
student adjustment counselor at Malden High for more than three
decades. Theyre approaching it from a positive side, not a negative
side, and there are a number of kids that dont use. I think its well
worth a try, and were supporting it.
Said fellow counselor Van Huynh, Were praising the ones that are
doing the right thing. The principal supports us, the mayors office
is supporting us, we support the program even though its only a trial.
To Lyons, the program is something worth trying as an alternative to
past approaches, from annual visits by counselors to speeches from
prison inmates and lectures from former students about the recovery
process.
I think this might be a better approach, getting kids on board,
Lyons said. I think youll know within the year if something is worth
continuing, but we certainly support it.
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