Washblog

(Washington, D.C.) - On Thursday, January 17, 2008, Deputy Director for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Dr. Bertha K. Madras, will be in Des Moines, Washington, to address local education officials during a regional drug prevention summit on school-based random student drug testing - initiated and hosted by Washington State's Educational Service Districts (ESD) 113 and 121.

Seattle-Tacoma area school administrators, teachers, nurses, counselors, athletic directors, and coaches are invited to attend this informative drug prevention forum, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Highline Community College (2400 South 240th Street, Des Moines, Washington).  The summit will be geared specifically toward middle and high schools in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

The regional random student drug testing summit will address relevant legal and programmatic issues, and serve as an introduction for school districts that would like to learn more about drug prevention, intervention, and treatment programs, like random student drug testing.  Participants will be provided information on U.S. Department of Education grants for developing, implementing, and expanding random student drug testing programs in their schools.

Over 1,000 school districts nationwide have implemented random student drug testing as a means of school-based drug prevention, deterrence, and treatment.  The programs are community-initiated, treatment-based, non-punitive, and protect privacy and confidentiality.

WHO: Bertha K. Madras, Ph.D.,

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

WHAT: Washington State's Educational Service Districts 113 & 121's
Summit on Random Student Drug Testing

WHERE: Highline Community College - Student Union Building
2400 South 240th Street
Des Moines, Washington 98198

WHEN: THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2008
                    8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. (OPEN PRESS)