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Mass. Lt. Gov. Calls for State Funding of Student Drug Testing
May 18, 2005

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News Summary

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's administration is calling on the state legislature to provide funding for public schools that want to initiate student drug testing. The proposal also includes $9.1 million in additional funding to provide detoxification service for up to 8,000 state residents, the New Bedford Standard-Times reported May 17.

Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey unveiled "A Case for Change: A Strategic Plan for Substance Abuse Services in the Commonwealth," which includes the drug-testing and detox proposals as well as tracking of heroin overdoses, plans to crack down on methamphetamine use and production, and intensive case-management for at-risk students.

Healey was joined at the announcement by the mayor of New Bedford and the school superintendent of Salem, representing the only two towns in Massachusetts that are considering student drug testing. New Bedford Mayor Frederick M.  Kalisz Jr. said he would prefer to adopt a voluntary drug-testing program.

"The comprehensive strategies unveiled in this plan emphasize prevention and target regions that have high substance abuse," Healey said.  "To ensure the most effective use of our resources, those recommendations focus our spending on science-based programs and expanding access to treatment."

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