Thursday, August 2, 2007

White House Drug Czar learns about ‘cheese,’ announces new federal grants in Dallas/Fort Worth

By Pegasus News wire

Washington, D.C. - Today, August 2nd, John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and President George W. Bush’s “Drug Czar,” was in Dallas/Fort Worth for a series of meetings and briefings with State and local officials.

Stock photo of John P. Walters.

During his day-long visit - which included addressing the Texas High School Coaches Association in Fort Worth and a briefing from the “Cheese” Heroin Task Force in Dallas - Director Walters announced new random student drug testing grants for six independent school districts (ISDs) in Texas. The Director highlighted drug education and prevention programs, like student drug testing, as tools local communities can use to prevent, deter, and combat substance use.

“The State of Texas is on the forefront of drug prevention and testing,” said Director Walters. “As one of three states (including New Jersey and Florida) with a steroids testing program, Texas is protecting the health and safety of its student-athletes, as well as the integrity of competition.

Texas’ statewide steroids testing program is complemented by the fact that 22 independent school districts have a random student drug testing program in place, which tests students for a wide range of illegal substances. In Texas, local officials, communities and families know that when you randomly drug test youth, you deter drug use, be it steroids or ‘Cheese’ heroin.”

Six ISDs will receive the new Federal random student drug testing grants over the next 3-years, totaling $1.67 million. Bloomington ISD will receive $196,226; Ennis ISD will receive $148,566; Friendswood ISD will receive $101,802 (one year); Ganado ISD will receive $233,293; La Porte ISD will receive $396,011; and Mission Consolidated ISD will receive $597,898.

The new grants will assist local schools and communities develop, implement, or expand random student drug testing programs. Since 2003, the Department of Education has awarded random student drug testing grants to 20 ISDs and 2 non-school district entities in the State of Texas totaling $9.3 million.

“In order for our students to succeed academically, they have to come to school ready to learn,” U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said. “This means students need to make smart decisions outside of the classroom, especially when it comes to drugs. Random student drug testing helps keeps students healthy both by discouraging drug use in the first place and detecting drug abuse so that it can be treated. These grants will help Texas schools provide safe, drug-free learning environments in which students can grow and achieve.”

Nearly 1,000 school districts nationwide have a random student drug testing program in place. Almost half of those school districts are assisted with Federal resources. In 2003, the United States Supreme Court ruled that random student drug testing programs are legal and valid and must be confidential and non-punitive.

To learn more about random student drug testing, please visit: http://www.randomstudentdrugtesting.org.

Posted by Chad

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