Keating backs drug testing in schools

Tuesday, December 7th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Frank Keating today suggested random drug testing as a way of cutting substance abuse in schools. Keating, in announcing a program to counter drug and alcohol abuse, called for legislation to empower school districts to conduct random drug tests.

He also called for a dramatic increase in treatment for those arrested for drug and alcohol offenses, an expansion of drug courts, a lowering of the blood alcohol threshold on drunk driving offenses from point-one-oh to point-zero-eight, and tougher penalties and increased arrests for drug trafficking.

Keating called for financial rewards for schools that reduce their drug abuse rate. He said families must become involved in treatment programs of students.