Maybe testing is not the best solution

This we can all agree on: We must keep drugs out of the hands of our kids. But is drug testing the final solution? That is debatable.

In a two-year study done at 11 Oregon high schools released by the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2007, drug tests were shown to not be the deterrent once thought.

The study did not recommend eliminating drug testing; it did, though, warn using testing as a substitute for drug education.

Dr. Linn Golberg, co-author of the study, said in a New York Times article that "we didn't find any evidence that the testing was a deterrent."

Testing for drugs is complicated - with limitations. If a student is using drugs not being tested, it will come up negative. If drug use is 48-72 hours prior to the random test, the test will likely come up drug-free. And if the specimen is adulterated or the student is using prescription drugs, tests could be compromised.

Is it all worth it? The reviews are lukewarm.

The most recent statistics released by New Jersey, Texas and Florida showed that only 4 of 11,217 athletes screened so far have come back positive. Florida dropped its program after a year. Texas politicians, concerned with the $3 million annual cost, have made pleas not to renew the program. Indiana decided against moving forward with a program.

"We're not against steroid testing," said Bobby Cox of the Indiana High School Athletic Association in a USA Today article. "But is it really worth it to put that much money to get that kind of return?"

Granted, testing is not done to study just how many kids do steroids. It is to keep them from using. In that sense the numbers are great news.

But the threat of punishment from a positive test must be counter-balanced with education on the dangers of drugs.

That responsibility doesn't lie with a third-party drug test administrator. It starts with a coach and teacher who discuss the risks of substance use, focusing on the facts instead of scare tactics. Involved parents who trust their eyes and ears when they see symptoms of drug use, not just relying on tests. Call me naive, but it starts with education in the classroom and at the dinner table. Prevention.

Drug testing is an answer to the ills of drug use. But is it the final solution? That's a tough call.