Sachem Battles Drug Use

In attempt to slow the growing drug problem on Long Island and in its schools, the Sachem Central School District's Board of Education approved the implementation of drug testing kits to be given out to parents of students in the district.

According to Robert Scavo, the Vice President of the board, the kits will be available only at the request of parents, who can pick up a kit for home use at the guidance offices in schools, preventing students from acquiring one to test his or her self.

Other schools in the area, such as Patchogue-Medford, have been discussing the idea as well.

The tests are optional and it is unlikely the school would ever make them mandatory, Scavo said.

"I don't think it will ever go in that direction," he added. "You can't just pick a random kid that you think may be a kid that uses drugs and just test them."

Scavo and the rest of the board members are hoping these kits will help parents control drug use by their children. As it stands now, New York State laws prohibit parents from voluntarily admitting their child into a mandatory drug rehabilitation program. It is only after a court order that parents have the ability to put their child in a rehab facility.

The Sachem Aware Committee, a group formed in 2008 in response to the increase heroin usage among students, has been working with New York State Senator Brian Foley to change the law. Together, they are hoping to overturn legislature to allow parents to put their children into mandatory rehabilitation, as well as having the insurance company cover the costs.

Parents in the community, like Carol Surico of Centereach, think this is a step in the right direction in fighting the drug problem in schools.

"I think it's a good idea, due to the rising drug usage here on Long Island," she said. "Having easy access to such a kit could potentially put a parent's mind at ease or verify the need to get their child help."

Tom LoCascio, a junior at Sachem High School North, supports the school's decision.

"Nothing bad can come of it," he said. "I don't think it's a bad idea, but I don't think that it will be as effective as they want it to be, personally."

A question of privacy invasion has come to the surface, but Scavo said all precautions were taken before approving the kits.

"I wanted to make sure we weren't violating any civil rights or laws, or the students' rights, but the fact that its not mandatory, and that it is based upon requests, basically holds the district not liable in the event that something should happen."

Surico is more worried about the child's image being at risk.

"I would absolutely use the kit, with the understanding that my child's privacy would be ensured. Under the circumstances, I don't think it is an invasion of privacy if it could possibly prevent a drug problem or even death."

"I don't think it matters because your privacy is your parent's responsibility as well," LoCascio added. "If you get caught doing drugs by the police or something, they look like bad parents."

Scavo is not singling out his district for having drug problems, but rather believes that there is no school on the island that is free of addiction.

"Any school district that says they don't have a problem is really delirious. It's in every school."