The Board of Education is considering the use of "drug-sniffing dogs" as a tool to fight the substance-abuse crisis in Hawai'i public schools. This program would use dogs that are proficient and certified to detect not only drugs, but alcohol, gunpowder and abused medications.

A detection-canine program is critically needed in Hawai'i schools. School canine programs have been proven to be effective and have been supported by courts across the country. News reports have pointed to U.S. Department of Justice findings that Hawai'i has the highest rate in the nation of high school students who drink on campus — more than twice the national average. And our state is tied for second in the nation for marijuana use on campus.

A 2002 state Department of Health study reports that one in five high school seniors admits to having been drunk or "stoned" on campus; one in four needs treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse upon graduation. A 2003 study by the University of Hawai'i's Social Sciences Department reports that one in three Hawai'i high school students was "offered, sold or given an illegal drug on school property." The same study reports that Hawai'i's youth are 26 percent more likely than Mainland counterparts to be offered or sold drugs on public school campuses.

Why does Hawai'i take top honors in this crisis? Perhaps because Hawai'i and Alaska are the only two states that have not been using detection canines in schools. Detection canines have been used in schools for more than 30 years across the Mainland. In 2003, two Hawai'i private schools began using this safety tool and continue to benefit from the results.

"As an administrator in a small private high school on O'ahu, one of my responsibilities is school discipline. This means being aware of drugs on or near the campus. Since using Interquest Detection Canines of Hawai'i, the number of drug-related violations has been reduced to less than half the previous year," said Stan Vincent, dean of students at the Academy of the Pacific in Honolulu.

The state Department of Education implemented a pilot program in three Maui schools last year. The program was highly successful, and all three schools want it to become an ongoing program. Mainland schools with detection-canine programs find not only a decrease in the amount of contraband on campus, but also a decrease in violence, bullying and gang activity.

It is currently very difficult and uncomfortable for school administrators to have "reasonable suspicion" of contraband in order to justify a "search." Not only does a detection canine legally and easily provide this, but it is done with 100 percent impartiality. Sniffs are conducted on a random, unannounced basis during class time. There are no lockdowns or disruptions. If there is contraband, the canine will find it. The message, therefore is: Don't bring it, use it or sell it at school. The deterrent effect is immediate and effective.

But are we sending a message to our children that we do not trust them? The above studies would suggest that there are a significant number of students who cannot be trusted to follow rules and laws for safety. We are sending a message to students, parents and communities that student safety and providing an environment conducive to learning is of highest priority.

What right is more important than a student's right to a safe campus? No guns, no alcohol, no drugs. Let an impartial dog make the judgment and a handler do an inspection. Preserve a positive, trusting relationship between administration and students.

Are we violating students' Fourth Amendment rights to privacy? No. The U.S. and Hawai'i Supreme Courts have ruled that the "sniff" of a certified detection canine is not a considered a "search." However, courts have ruled that the canine's "alert" provides the "reasonable suspicion" required to conduct an inspection as outlined in Chapter 19 of the Hawai'i Board of Education's adminsitrative rules.

Is having canines in our schools the answer to our substance-abuse crisis? No, Hawai'i's crisis requires multi-level efforts. But canines are an impartial, legal and effective tool being used in schools throughout the country. Take charge, Hawai'i, on the critical, youth level with deterrence of guns, drugs and alcohol in our schools.

Whitney White is president of Interquest Detection Canines of Hawai'i. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.