Published: 12:16 AM, Fri Jul 30, 2010
Drug testing results remain fairly steady
By Earl Vaughan Jr.
Scholastic sports editor
Results from random drug testing of Cumberland County students involved in athletics and extracurricular activities showed little change from last year, at least on a percentage basis.
At a glance, there were 31 positive tests last year, all for marijuana, compared to 17 positives the previous year.
But as Leon Mack, student activities director for the county schools noted, their was a substantial increase in the number of athletes tested.
Figures showed that 2,186 drug tests were performed on students in 2009-10. That compared with just 1,428 the previous school year.
Athletes and students in competitive extracurricular programs like band, forensics and ROTC are subject to the random drug tests.
All students who test positive suffer a temporary loss of the right to participate in their sport or activity, and they also undergo mandatory counseling to deal with the drug issue.
Additional positive tests during the same school year can result in a student being barred from competition.
"We are kind of holding our own,'' Mack said of last year's numbers. "But one positive test is not good.
"We're looking at what our options are for providing additional counseling within the schools, or setting up a program referencing to the use of any type of drug. At this time we don't have anything in place other than our normal counseling.''
One major bright spot for the program has been the result of testing for steroids. In three years, a total of 445 steroid tests have been conducted, all of them negative.
The big question facing the drug testing program is whether or not it will continue after this year.
The county schools originally were awarded a four-year grant. Testing was supposed to start in the 2006-07 school year, but was delayed while surveys were conducted about the drug program.
Actual testing didn't start until 2007-08, so this will be the final year the program is funded with grant money.
Mack said after this year, the program will be evaluated and a decision will be made on what to do next.
"The need for the program is very important,'' Mack said. "It is my belief that the numbers could be higher if we were not placing a lot of emphasis on trying to reach our student-athletes and let them know the use of drugs of any type is not good.''
Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.