Drug Testing in Schools - Thoughts?

[Pliny]

The success is in the statistics within the evaluation of the Alberta legislation of 2006.

And, the success in a drug rehab, as I have recently learned, is NOT that the addict no longer needs professional help and support systems. They are necessary for some addicts to continue with in order to stay clean. The whole goal is to stay off the drugs, so whatever that takes for that individual is what is necessary. It's not about guaranteed income, it's about guaranteed support for the addict. Lucky them.

I believe that success should be measured by the individual's ability to live independently, in control of their own lives - without "help". Unfortunately, that leaves the "helper" without a job so no such measure will ever be devised. The measure will be in terms as you suggest. It is similar to measuring the reading skills of kids. The Teachers associations do not want testing in schools. It is a reflection on teachers and the teaching skills employed which the teaching establishment is not interested in knowing. As all teachers are under the protection of teacher's federations the measure of the teacher's ability is not to be questioned. Proper measures of achieved reading levels for students are not advocated by those charged with maintaining the system.

The recidivism rate of drug users that have undergone "treatment" is quite high. The drug users have then been betrayed. "Help" is useless as it did not restore to them the ability to be in control of their lives, their addictions and their drug behavior. They are instead dependent upon a "support system" - a substitute for their addiction.

So success should never be defined by those providing the service. They will define it within their limitations.

If the goal were to get people off drugs and living independently then they are a huge failure. Who wants to live with failure? Why can't they "help" them? Because making a living is the prior consideration. Many good people with a real desire to help leave because they feel ineffective. Some stay because they like to dominate others.