The Broward County School Board is currently deciding whether to use the spray, which is similar to bomb-detection equipment used in airports. A principal would rub sticky paper on anything touched by a student suspected of drug use. The paper is then sprayed with a chemical that can detect traces of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, speed, and ecstasy.

The federal government has made available grants to school systems that are interested in trying the new aerosol spray.

Joe Melita, the Broward school district's chief investigator, said, "My intention is not to swab kids. It could be used if a parent is worried about their child and needs the school's help."

He added that a positive test would not result in a student being turned over to police. "We don't want this to be a punitive thing," Melita said.

Last year, Palm Beach County schools used the spray in six high schools where drugs were a problem. "We found the parents appreciated what we were doing," said district spokesman Nat Harrington. "It was for them, not the police."

The Broward School Board has postponed a vote on the matter to allow parent groups to discuss the issue.

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