now they are offering free drug tests. next they will be forcing the kids to take drug tests to let them go to school. oh well f*ck the 4th amendment. Original Article Parents at 2 PV schools offered drug-testing kits Ofelia Madrid The Arizona Republic Apr. 20, 2005 12:00 AM Some seventh-grade students may have another reason to just say no to drugs. That is because when they get home, their parents could have a drug-testing kit waiting for them. The Paradise Valley Unified School District is partnering with a local agency and a home drug-testing company to provide free drug-testing kits to parents of seventh-grade students at two of its middle schools, Vista Verde and Desert Shadows. The district is believed to be the only district in the state to offer this program. Within the next two weeks about 800 families will be offered a free multidrug test that screens for marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and opiates. Project 7th Grade is a pilot program started by notMYkid .org, a non-profit organization that provides prevention and education information about substance abuse, and First Check, which sells home diagnostic products such as drug tests. Susan Pressler, who has two daughters at Vista Verde, said her children think it's a good idea. They tell her about students using drugs, she said. "This is the time when kids start experimenting," Pressler said. "This will help parents." The test, which can be bought at major drug stores, costs about $28. The urine test gives parents results in eight minutes. "This is a communication starter," Debbie Moak, founder of notMYkid .org, said while holding the drug testing kit. "Put this on your kitchen counter tonight and your kids will notice." Having the ability to drug test a child is a good deterrent, Moak said. She compared it to photo radar. "We may not like it, but it is a deterrent. I know I slow down when I know it's up ahead." It will also provide students with another way to say no, she said. First Check and notMYkid.org plan to expand the program nationally in the fall. Paradise Valley has been a leader in the area of drug testing high school students. It became the first district in the state to adopt a random drug-testing policy for athletes in 1991 and spends about $21,000 per year testing 400 to 500 high school students. At Paradise Valley, if a student tests positive, law enforcement is not involved, and there are no disciplinary consequences at the school. However, the student is not allowed to participate in sports or clubs. Parents are also told. There is strong support for drug testing at the middle-school level from the parents in the 34,000-student district that covers northeast Phoenix and parts of Scottsdale. There are five high schools and seven middle schools in the district. A survey sent to parents of middle and high school students was overwhelmingly in favor of the testing. The district also recently applied for a $20,000 grant from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to expand random drug testing to middle school. The district sent out letters and an e-mail to parents letting them know about the pilot program, said Jim Lee, director of student services for the district. Response has been positive, he said. Reach the reporter at ofelia.madrid@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6879.