HUNTINGTON -- Cabell Midland and Huntington high schools' athletes, student drivers and parents were formally introduced to the county's new student drug testing policy.
The orientation sessions included an overview of the policy, information on drug prevention and a detailed explanation of the actual testing process.
Todd Alexander, administrative assistant over secondary schools, told the thousands of people that the policy will be random from the start. At no point, he said, will every student eligible for the random pool be initially tested.
He assured students and parents that the county has done and will do everything possible to keep positive test results confidential. The policy states that if an athlete tests positive, the parent, the coach and the principal will be notified. For a student driver, only the parents and principal. In the event that a student whose parents opted them into the random tests positive, only the parents will be notified.
All the notifications will come from Sport Safe Testing Service, the company that was awarded the testing contract. Matt Franz, a company spokesperson, said the schools will provide them with a list of names and student identification numbers.
"The list is loaded into a software program that is designed for random pools," Franz said. "It's a completely unbiased process."
Franz said a cup containing the urine sample will be sealed and marked with only the student's identification number so company officials do not even know who the sample came from.
The test will look for marijuana, cocaine, phencyclidine, opiates, methadone, methamphetamine, amphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol. Franz said the tests also are capable of picking up traces of prescription drugs.
For those who question the accuracy of the tests, Franz said a second sample is automatically put through another testing phase.
"We have no false positives," Franz said. "When I call a parent, I can say with a 100 percent guarantee that I'm not lying to you."
He also warned kids against purchasing or using products that claim to clean drugs and alcohol from the body. He said they don't work and the drug screen also looks for traces of adulterants, which is present in those products.
The best way to avoid any problems is by not drinking alcohol or doing drugs, Franz and Alexander said. And it all goes back to the policy's main purpose of giving kids a way to say no.
"We know peer pressure is a huge thing," Alexander said. "It's worse now than it's ever been. They need a reason to say no."
Many of the parents at the orientations said they supported the policy. Some, like Carla Parker, said the consequences should more strict. But having something in place, they said, is a good start.
"The good thing about it is it starts screening the kids while they are young and don't go astray," Huntington High father Leon White said. "They'll be less apt to turn to (drugs) when they are older."
White said he does wish the law would allow the schools to randomly test the entire student population, because those kids will slip through the cracks.
"With an athlete, if he has a problem (and tests positive), there's a chance to correct it," White said. "Any student not involved with athletics or driving, there's no chance to catch it."
But Todd Alexander, administrative assistant over secondary schools, said he expects about 2,000 of the 3,200 students anticipated to be enrolled in the two high schools to be in the random pool.
Incoming freshman Robert Skolik, who plans to play soccer and tennis, said some kids will still do drugs no matter what is put in place. But he said the policy is a strong pillar for students to lean on.
"There will still be some kids that get away with it or find ways to do drugs," Skolik said. "But it will be reduced. It's a reason you can give people not to do (drugs)."
After the orientations, students received consent forms that they and their parents or guardians must sign and return before they can participate in practices. The only caveat to that is for students whose practices for fall sports begin Aug. 4 but can't attend orientation until Aug. 5. A makeup session will be held at 9 a.m. at Huntington High and 1 p.m. at Cabell Midland on Tuesday, Aug. 5, for students who might have been out of town this week.
Alexander said on Aug. 6, if consent forms are not turned in, those athletes will not be allowed to continue participating in practice.
Student drivers wishing to purchase a parking pass can do so at Cabell Midland from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 7, 14 and 21. Huntington High students won't be able to buy passes until the first week of school.
The cost is $40 and consent forms must have been turned in or can be turned in when purchased. Students and/or parents also must bring a driver's license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
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