Voluntary Random Drug Testing Program

Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, Mid-Pacific Institute implemented a voluntary random drug testing program. With this program, the administration hopes to offer parents and their children a new tool in the fight against illegal drugs.

"The program will be non-punitive," President Joe Rice said. Test results will be sent directly to the parent. The school has no information about a positive or negative result. The program will give students one more tool to fight peer pressure."

The program is designed to gently force a discussion between parents and students. Students won't get removed from athletic teams or from school if the test is positive. The school doesn't find out about the results, unless the parent asks the school for help. The point is to help our children early on and promote discussion in the home," Rice said.

Questions and Answers

Does Mid-Pacific have a drug problem?

Simple "yes" or "no" answers don't cut it anymore. We must admit that society itself has a drug problem. Our country, the state of Hawaii, our neighboorhoods, and, yes, our schools -- public and private alike -- are negatively impacted by drug abuse. The costs are enormous, whether measured by dollars, lives lost, human suffering or wasted potential. At MPI, we believe that even a single student is too important to lose in this battle.

What is Mid-Pacific's current drug policy?

Mid-Pacific Institute is dedicated to preserving and protecting the safety of all students. Mid-Pacific Institute administration reserves the right as a private educational institution to search student lockers and cars as well as a student's personal self and property if there is reasonable suspicion to believe the student is in possession of contraband or items injurious to themselves or others. Refusal to comply will result in immediate suspension with possibility of dismissal pending disciplinary board hearing.

Mid-Pacific Institute also reserves the right to request a medical 5-panel toxicology screen when there is reasonable suspicion that a student is involved with or under the influence of an illegal substance. Screening must be done within 24 hours of request, or it will be considered a positive screening,and student will be dismissed from school.

What
As the name implies, the program is totally voluntary. Both the parent(s) and the student must agree to be in the program in order to be enrolled. Students who are randomly selected for testing would only be from among those enrolled in the program.

Why
This Voluntary Random Drug Testing Program will supplement our overall drug education and abuse prevention program. Society has a drug abuse problem,and our youth are most vulnerable. This program will enhance parental involvement and further empower students to say "no" to drugs.

How
At the beginning of each school year every family will be required to submit a form indicating their choice to enroll or not enroll in the program. The ID numbers of the enrolled students will be forwarded to an outside drug-testing laboratory. Periodically, we will select a day to perform testing and the lab will randomly select students from among those enrolled. Parents will be notified by the lab if the test results are negative. In the event of a positive test result, a medical doctor from the lab will contact the parents. MPI will not be informed of the test results, thus no disciplinary action will be taken on our part.

Where
The testing will be done on campus by technicians from the lab in a secure, private area.

When
Testing will be conducted during the regular school day and every effort will be made not to disrupt classes.

Cost
There will be no charge to the families who wish to participate in the program. The cost, which Mid-Pacific will cover, is approximately $25 per test.

What happens if a test result comes back positive?
Parents are contacted by the Medical Review Officer (MRO) from the testing company. The MRO is a certified medical doctor (M.D.) who works for the testing company to validate all findings and determine the cause of a positive test result. The school will not be notified of any results, positive or negative.

What about false positives?
Actually, there is no such thing as a "false positive." An initial screening of the urine sample is done by the testing company. If this initial screening indicates that the urine sample contains abnormalities i.e. the presence of something other than the chemicals found in normal urine), further testing is done to determine specific chemical contents of the sample. This is referred to as a "non-negative" urine sample. The MRO will then contact the donor to determine what may have contributed to the non-negative result. A non-negative result may be explained by such things as the use of certain medications, consumption of poppy seed muffins or second-hand smoke. This is often mistakenly referred to as a "false positive."

I understand that this program is purely voluntary, but what will happen if we choose not to enroll?
Nothing. Upon receipt, the enrollment forms will be separated into two piles: a "yes" pile and a "no" pile. Once all the forms are received, the "no" pile will be discarded.

Will MPI ever receive results from a test?
The testing company will never contact the school about the result of an individual drug test. However, parents may willingly opt to inform the school about the result of their child's test. In this case the school will provide support and resources for that family. There will be no punitive consequences.

The testing program at a glance. Download a PDF flowchart!

Signs

According to the American Council for Drug Education, "it is important to keep in mind that if a child shows any of the following symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that he or she is using drugs. These behaviors could be the product of adolescent stress or a host of other problems. The signs below may warrant attention, especially if they persist or if they occur in a cluster. A mental health professional or a caring and concerned adult may help a child successfully overcome a crisis and develop more effective coping skills, often preventing further problems. Change is key; it is important to watch for significant changes in your child's physical appearance, personality or behavior."

Physical Signs

• Loss of appetite, increase in appetite, unexplained weight loss or gain.
• Slowed or staggering walk; poor physical coordination.
• Inability to sleep, awake at unusual times.
• Red, watery eyes; pupils larger or smaller than usual
• Smell of substance on breath, body or clothes.
• Needle marks on lower arm, leg or bottom of feet.
• Nausea, vomiting or excessive sweating.
• Tremors or shakes of hands, feet or head.

Behavioral Signs

• Changes in friends.
• Drop in grades at school or performance at work.
• Change in habits at home.
• Difficulty in paying attention; forgetfulness.
• Lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem.
• Moodiness, irritability, or nervousness, paranoia
• Excessive need for privacy
• Stealing money
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.

The information provided on this web page is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical, psychiatric, psychological or behavioral health care advice. This page is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment, or as a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care professional. Links to other web sites are offered for informational purposes only and, as such, are not endorsed by Mid-Pacific Institute. Mid-Pacific Institute makes no representations, guarantees, or warranties as to: (1) the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information provided via this site; (2) the use of or the results of the use of this site; and (3) the accuracy, reliability, availability or completeness of the content of web sites linked to the MPI site.