The Nation : Meese Backs Drug Tests

Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III said the Reagan Administration does not seek large-scale drug testing in the workplace but regards the exams as a way to help drug abusers. At a Las Vegas forum sponsored by the American Medical Assn., Meese said Congress and news media took an interest in fighting drugs only after the cocaine death of basketball player Len Bias. Meese said of the tests of certain federal employees: “It is one step that can be used to prevent and cure drug abuse. We don’t intend to have large-scale drug testing, but testing of federal workers only in high-risk jobs to ensure the safety of the public.”