SCHOOL DRUG-TESTING NO QUICK FIX FOR SOCIAL ILLS

Upon reading Joyce Nalepka's plea for mandatory drug testing, one is left
with the impression that this supposedly minor infringement on the freedom
and dignity of our children would cure society of almost all its ills
("Just say no," Letters, March 23). Unfortunately, as with all would be
utopia-makers, she is making a plea that is emotional, not logical.

False positive and negative results of drug testing occur. If you don't use
drugs but for some reason test positive, no one will believe you. If you
use drugs and test negative, you're going to keep your mouth shut.
Thousands of young lives likely will be ruined by false positives, and teen
drug use will continue because of false negatives.

I also wonder how prohibiting drug-using teens from taking part in
character-building activities is supposed to help them and society as a
whole. If I believed coercive tactics were effective, I would force
drug-using teens to join the chess club or the football team, not deprive
them of a chance to find something else to do.

Do we really want our children growing up believing that innocence, not
guilt, needs to be proved?

JOSH SUTCLIFFE

Sunnyside, N.Y.