Jan 29, 2007 11:55 pm US/Eastern
High Schoolers Buzzing Over In-School Alcohol Test
Positive Results Could Include Alcohol-Based Products
PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) ―
-
-
EtG alcohol tests will be administered at Pequannock Township High School, but there's plenty of controversy surrounding the new test.
CBS
Most high schoolers are used to taking all sorts of examinations in school, but a new test has parents and students alike buzzing about in controversy. School-administered alcohol tests have hit the hallways, but not everyone is trusting the results.
It's called the best test ever for finding "booze clues," and one of the first districts in the nation to get it is Pequannock Township in Morris County, New Jersey. High School Senior Chris Voulcz told CBS 2 he could be asked for a urine sample at any time.
"I have nothing to hide so I'd volunteer it for myself," Voulcz said.
Like the vast majority of his peers, Voulcz is automatically enrolled because he parks on campus and he's participates in a school activity, soccer. The test is the EtG urine test and scientists say it's more sensitive and telling than a Breathalyzer and other tests because it checks for ethyl glucuronide, which stays in your system for 80 hours.
"Anytime you have any sort of alcohol it's going to pick it up," Pequannock Schools Superintendent Dr. Larrie Reynolds said.
But not all students are as open to the test as Voulcz and believe it takes away from students' privacy.
"I don't think the school should be poking around into what you are doing on weekends and out of school," one student, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
Pequannock school officials expect the testing to start in February after notification letters go out to parents and assemblies are held to give students the details.
The controversy thickens however as school officials admit the test is so sensitive it can trigger false positives. Researchers say it's possible for many different things to show up on the test results including the following:
--Hand Sanitizer (62 percent alcohol)
--Cough Medicine (10 percent alcohol)
--Mouthwash (27 percent alcohol)
--Vanilla Extract (35 percent alcohol)
--Disinfectant spray (at least 79 percent alcohol)
School officials say they upped the threshold to rule out small amounts of alcohol. Isaac Skelton of the Drug Policy Alliance says the test is being pushed before all the facts are in. "We think this is an issue best left to parents and their children," he said.
In total, the district has been issued a $120,000 federal grant to fund the test.
Pequannock school officials promise students who test positive would not be punished by them, instead parents would be told. The students would also still keep their parking privileges and school activities.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Woman, Teen Son Found Dead In Queens Closet 3 mins ago 
Schumer Wants Probe Of Frequent Flier Mile Claims 8 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments