Here are some tips and tools for those able to attend one of the Office of National Drug Control Policy student drug testing summits. Let educators know that random student drug testing programs are invasive, potentially counterproductive and unsupported by the scientific literature.

• October 21, 2008
  Omaha, NE
  Doubletree Hotel
  1616 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE
  
  
• October 29, 2008
  Albany, NY
  Crown Plaza
  State and Dodge Street
  Albany, Ny 12207 
   

Before the Summit

Register for the free event, here. The summit will begin with a morning registration between 8:30-9:00am.

Let us know you are attending by e-mailing Jennifer Kern, who will send you educational booklets to distribute at the summit and additional materials detailing what to expect at the summit. She can answer any questions you might have.

Host a pre-summit meet up to get acquainted, discuss possible responses to difficult questions and practice what you will say to introduce educators to the harms of random student drug testing. Please e-mail us if you are interested in organizing a meet-up before the event.

Prepare for the event by familiarizing yourself with the issue.  Begin by reading our booklet, Making Sense of Student Drug Testing: Why Educators Are Saying No.  Our issue-specific web site, www.safety1st.org, also provides a wealth of information.  Our Beyond Zero Tolerance publication presents a reality-based approach to drug education and student assistance programs.

Check out our talking points so that you can confidently approach educators about the potential harms of drug testing at the summit.

Tips on Tough Questions

The ONDCP presenters take written questions from the audience on special yellow question cards.  No matter how outraged you are by the White House's insane drug policies, rude and inappropriate questions will not impress educators.  E-mail us for a list of question suggestions that will have drug testing proponents stumbling over their responses.

Here are some questions that will get the drug czar and his supporters red in the face:

• Why do adolescent health groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, the National Education Association and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence oppose student drug testing? 
   
• Student drug testing programs are supposed to be confidential, but if students are suspended from the activity, then people are going to know, for the most part, why they've been suspended.  That means the testing and results aren't as confidential as they should be.  Please address this concern. 
  
  
• Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University found that athletes who were drug tested experienced an increase in known risk factors for drug use, including an increase in normative views of use, belief in lower risk of use, and poorer attitudes toward the school.  Should we be concerned that random drug testing programs foster resentment among students?

The Day of the Summit

Please arrive in business casual attire to be most effective in communicating with educators.

Find fellow drug-testing opponents the morning of the summit near our information table. (In the past, event coordinators have provided a table inside the main room marked "Non-ONDCP Approved Materials.")

In everything we communicate at the summits, we want to stay closely focused on student drug testing.  Attempting to broaden the discussion may hurt our message and close local educators off to our concerns.

Tips From our Members

Here are some helpful tips from members who previously attended summits:

Melanie Petrandis of Orlando said, “I found it helpful to start out conversations with something along the lines of ‘I recognize that drug use is a problem with today’s youth, and I really care about student’s safety. However, I feel student drug testing can be counterproductive’.. .and then go on with the reasons for your opposition. This way you have already established a common ground with the educators, and they can’t say ‘Well you just don’t think drugs are a big deal’, or ‘You don’t care about kids enough’ when you come right out and say you oppose random student drug testing.”

Melanie also advises, “It’s important to smile, look approachable, and truly be interested in hearing what others have to say. Ask questions; it helps to understand the main reasons they feel the way they do, and you can mold your argument to their concerns. Educators are more likely to feel at ease with you and be willing to listen (and possibly agree with) your argument if they feel like you are interested in their views as well, and not just trying to ‘prove them wrong.’”

Chris Chiles of SSDP’s University of Michigan Chapter said, “I would usually just step into conversation with a quick, well-practiced line, then just hand the person a pamphlet. If they wanted to talk more about the issue, they'd ask a question, but it's more likely the written material is going to convince them.”

Chris also advices that you, “focus on reaching as many people as you can during the break times and especially during the registration period. Make sure everyone gets a pamphlet. Be sure your presence is felt. Ask a lot of questions. Play by their rules, but assert your position.”

Peter Eyre of Washington D.C. said, "The pre-summit meeting allowed everyone to touch base, put a face with a name, and become even more motivated to attend the summit. At the summit most educators I talked to were still on the fence about whether to implement student drug testing or not and almost everyone there is still receptive to hearing information from drug policy reformers."

Peter also recommends, "practicing a 15 or 30 second 'elevator speech' that you can confidently give to educators at the summit.  Because first impressions are important, I encourage attendees to dress professionally, so that they as the messenger do not detract from the message."

Gretchen Bergman of San Diego wrote, "It was really important that we were present when the ONDCP came to town to do the summit.  We had people to bring up questions that wouldn't have been heard, and there were educators in the audience who weren't buying the drug czar's position, and were grateful to hear our perspective."

Suzanne Wills of Dallas advises, "It is important to be there and that the presenters know you are there. Put out Alliance materials. People do pick it up. The presenters mentioned several times there would be opposition to testing. I think demonstrating that by your presence will discourage attendees from pushing testing.  Stay all day if you can."

Linda Otis from just outside Dallas said, "I asked all the people sitting in the immediate vicinity of me if they would like a copy of the material I had.  They all accepted.  So, this may be a good idea to get the material to as many people as possible.  Some may not pick up a copy on their own."  Linda also suggests rebutting the emotional appeals made by the ONDCP by handing out materials that include the stories of real people--students and parents -- adversely affected by student drug testing.

After the Summit 

Write a Letter to the editor of your local newspaper about your experience at the event and your opposition to drug testing children.  Read letter to the editor and an op-ed written by students who attended summits in the past.

Report Back on your impressions from the day and let us know your ideas for how we could have an even greater impact at the next summit.

Donate to DPA and help the campaign against drug testing children.

Speak Up! If drug testing is proposed in your area, launch a campaign to stop the policy.

Pass a Resolution  against student drug testing in your PTA.

Encourage sensible drug education courses at schools.

Climb the Hill Write, call and visit your representatives to educate them about student drug testing and your experience at the taxpayer funded Drug Czar summit.

Click here to read more about last year's summits.

For more information on student drug testing, visit www.safety1st.org.