Fact: A study released this year by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston found that most physicians do not know that the standard 5 panel drug test will not detect OxyContin.

Fact: The standard 5 panel drug test will not detect OxyContin.

Fact: For a third straight year, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America study showed that about 1 in 5 teens have tried prescription drug painkillers such as Vicodin or OxyContin to get high about 4.5 million teens. It also indicated that many teens feel experimenting with prescription drugs is safer than illegal highs (AP story).

In light of the widespread push for random student drug testing, the combination of these facts makes my blood boil. Student drug testing programs create a very dangerous false sense of security, while doing nothing to educate young people or keep them safe. False-negative results give parents and school staff a false sense of reassurance, detracting from the need for efforts to provide students with the information they need.

The fact teens feel experimenting with prescription drugs is safer, demonstrates the need to provide honest science based information and focus on effecting attitudes. Surveillance programs are not sufficient or effective.

Drug tests provide very little information. The standard 5 panel drug test has a short window of detection for most drugs other than marijuana, and does not test for many of the most frequently used substances among young people, including alcohol, nicotine, ecstasy (MDMA), Oxycotin and inhalants

The AP article also notes that, "the Partnership survey put teen smoking at 22 percent, down from 23 percent last year and 42 percent in 1998." The most effective way to prepare young people for the health decisions they will make in life is to give them honest information rooted in science rather than rely on fear, intimidation and scare tactics.

Tags: Drug Testing, OxyContin.