Filed under "willful distortions of truth."
This morning the annual Montoring the Future survey was announced at a joint press conference between the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the University of Michigan. MTF has followed trends in drug use and attitudes among 8-12 graders for 30 years. As such, it is an authoritative body of knowledge on which we can make science-based policy decisions and measure the success of our drug policies.
Right?
Well, that might be true if you were anyone other than one of our nation's leading drug warriors. And, two of the top dogs -- Drug Czar John Walters and DEA chief Karen Tandy -- were at the MTF presser this morning. It should come as little surprise to us that they manipulated the survey's findings to justify (indefinite) extension of the Drug War.
I asked Dr. Lloyd Johnston, the leader researcher of MTF, about the disparity between the comprehensive nature of his work as compared to the selective use of data by the Drug Czar to justify random drug testing in schools. Dr. Johnston thoughtfully explained that his survey does not address random testing, but added that MTF does show little advantage to for-cause testing.
Compare this to Walters, who followed Johnston. He said that there will be a time "not too far off" when student drug testing is commonplace and "we will wonder what the controversy was all about." He also said (with a straight face), drug testing "works and it saves lives."
More Walters: This is what companies are doing and, therefore, it is safe for schools. Drug testing in schools is "similar to testing for tuberculosis" and such testing eliminates public health risks among children.
Huh?
I don't know if you believe any of this, but it sure makes me wonder if we're talking about the same thing. Most of us are eager for an honest debate about student drug testing. However, I doubt that such a debate can ever happen as long as the facts are bent to an ideological agenda.
16:05 - Update: AP hit on the press conference.
12/21 - Update: C-SPAN video of press conference
2 comments:
It sounds like Erik and Dan did a great job pestering the Drug Czar at his presser today.
It's also very exciting that SSDP landed the closer quote in the AP story.
Check it out!
"The survey results expose the abysmal failure that is the War on Drugs," said Scarlett Swerdlow, executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
amber;
That is so sad, but it is the reality of the war on some drugs at its most personal level. It is truly a witch hunt and those who are id'ed as drug users / abusers are cast into the American version of the soviet gulag system with the odds stacked in favor of them staying in it as long as possible.
The private prison system uses slave labor and tries to say it is rehabilitating people, what a joke. The only reason the private prison system exists is because the public doesn't like to build prisons with taxes and no politician will come out against the war on some drugs, because it would be political suicide to their careers. All the while Wackenhut, Brown and Root, the DEA, et al and the Drug Lords are all laughing all the way to the bank.
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