Remember "Foot-and-Mouth". "I will take PERSONAL control of this", he said. Within a week, when it was clearly out of hand, we heard "This [dumb schmuck] Brown will take PERSONAL control of this"

We are entitled (through experience) to ask - What’s his game this time?

Control freaks do not give power away unless by so doing they will ultimately end up with more.

Now that the summer holiday period is over and children are returning to school, head teachers are increasingly looking for ways to improve GCSE pass rates, create safer environments and boost student/teacher morale.\xA0

In a bid to address these concerns, some heads are issuing random drug tests to pupils from ages 11 to 16.\xA0Using oral swab tests they can check for cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, tranquilisers, barbiturates and methamphetamines.\xA0

Preventx, a leading European supplier, and the first UK company to offer the test has reported a high increase of sales to schools throughout the UK.\xA0

Preventx director, Michelle Hart said:

\x93Over the past year, our distribution to schools in the UK has risen every month.\xA0Head teachers are realising that something has to be done about drug abuse among pupils.\xA0Statistics show that one in five schools will have to deal with illegal drug use each year.\x94\xA0

She added:

The intention of drug testing isn\x92t to shame pupils, but to give help and assistance before it\x92s too late.\xA0If usage is detected early enough, support can be provided to show the potential harm they may be doing to themselves and their loved ones.\x94

A recent ICM research poll has shown that 82 per cent of parents and 66 per cent of children favoured drug testing in schools.\xA0Out of the 1,000 parents surveyed, 96 per cent said they would want to know if their child was taking drugs.

This comes after Tony Blair gave head teachers the power to introduce testing in schools in an interview with a national newspaper last year.

Mr Blair said:

\x93Some head teachers may worry that if they go down this path they are declaring there is a problem with their school.\xA0But in my view, the local community is probably perfectly fully aware that there is a problem.\x94\xA0

One school that is already carrying out random tests on its pupils claims they have had positive results.\xA0The Abbey School in Faversham, Kent has been testing pupils since the beginning of 2004 and head teacher Peter Walker believes it has contributed to all time high GCSE pass rates.\xA0

Mr Walker said:

\x93I feel that drug testing has helped people feel much safer.

\x93It has had an effect on contributions in the class room and on behaviour with far less disruption.\x94

Each week 20 names are randomly selected by computer to have the tests taken.

Mr Walker said he would not expel pupils if test results showed positive, but would interview pupils in the presence of parents where appropriate action would be taken.

He said:

\x93I can understand that there could be fears about infringing human rights and civil liberties, but we have been very careful about that.\x94

Miss Hart added:

\x93Mr Walker has appropriate systems in place when testing pupils.\xA0The parents and students are fully aware of what the procedure is and if they don\x92t want to take the test, they can refuse to do so.\x94

Recent random tests in American schools have dramatically cut marijuana, cocaine and heroine abuse among pupils.\xA0And President Bush has provided extra millions of dollars for the programme as \x93a tool to save children\x92s lives.\x94

I’m told by my physician that I display most of the symptoms of one who did quite a lot of drug testing at school.

Not that I remember too much of my school days…..

I’m told by my physician that I display most of the symptoms of one who did quite a lot of drug testing at school.

Not that I remember too much of my school days…..

Preventx has launched a new range of easy to use, low cost drug testing kits which are suitable for home testing use and start from as little as \xA36.99.
Preventx was founded six months ago, has rapidly expanded to become on the UK\x92s leading drug testing specialist of testing kits.
The increasing availability of drugs in the marketplace means that many parents are worried about their children being tempted to experiment. Although we would like to think that it would never happen to our child, the possibility of it happening is very real.
As a parent your position is a difficult one. You are concerned about your child\x92s welfare but you don\x92t want to stifle individuality and independence; you want to know what he or she is doing but don\x92t want to impose on their privacy. Now they are young adults you want to keep the trust you have built up with them over the years and yet you still feel you want to protect them. The worse scenario is having someone like a schoolteacher contacting you to tell you of a drug habit you were not aware of.
An open, caring environment in the home can help strengthen family bonds and mutual trust. Young people will be able to see that their parents are concerned enough to want to administer tests. This knowledge will help them resist peer pressure to experiment. Help them say \x91No\x92- my parents test me\x92.
Polly Everett Preventx\xAE Managing Director, said after seeing the success of drug testing kits for the home\x92s in America, I want to give the parents concerned, the opporunity to make informed decisions on their children\x92s future\x94.

Head teachers are allowed to randomly test pupils if suspected of taking drugs as part of a drive to curb drug abuse among teenagers.

The Prime Minister\x92s comments given to the News of the World has had backing from the Conservative Party and from David Hart, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers.

And a recent ICM research poll has shown that 82 per cent of parents and 66 per cent of children favoured drug testing in schools. Out of the 1,000 parents surveyed, 96 per cent said they would want to know if their child was taking drugs.

Preventx, the North-East based drug testing kit distributor\x92s spoke\x92s person, Polly Everett said: \x93Mr Blair\x92s backing of testing in schools is an excellent step forward in helping tackle drug problems. However, the next step must be to help schools with funding to supply the kits.

\x93It\x92s common place in private schools to have drug testing on pupils, but in state schools their budget doesn\x92t allow it, even though statistics show that one in five schools will have to deal with illegal drug use each year.\x94

Recent random tests in American schools have dramatically cut marijuana, cocaine and heroine abuse among pupils. And President Bush has provided extra millions of dollars into the programme as \x93a tool to save children\x92s lives.\x94

Polly Everett added: \x93The intention of drug testing isn\x92t to shame pupils, but to give help and assistance before it\x92s too late. If usage is detected early enough, support can be provided to show the potential harm they are doing to themselves and their loved ones.\x94

-Ends 284 words-

Preventx Image Library:
A large selection of high res 300 dpi jpg images are available for download at:
www.preventx.co.uk/press or simply e-mail press@preventx.co.uk were we will send images direct to you.

Media Contact: Stephen Davies

Tel: 0790 4444229
Email: stephend@zenithpr.co.uk