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Drug testing bill, L.D. 150, is 'myopically stupid'

I would like to comment on the letter published April 23 regarding a bill before the Legislature, L.D. 150, which would require drug testing for Medicaid recipients who are prescribed scheduled drugs.

This is one of the most myopically stupid morsels of cerebral effluvium to ooze before the Legislature in recent memory.

The author of this idiotic and impotent response to a serious medical and social problem not only shows a complete disregard for the concept of "innocent until proven guilty," the rights of Medicaid recipients and a mindset of pigeonholing a broad class of individuals under one big negative umbrella, but also demonstrates an ignorance of the substance abuse field in general.

What next, a law barring diabetics from walking within 100 feet of a doughnut shop?

I retired after nearly 25 years in the behavioral health field, most of it as a substance abuse counselor, and the remainder in mental health working with patients with co-occurring disorders (psychiatric and substance abuse) as well as the general population.

While regulation of dangerous substances is rational, arbitrary regulation of people in such a manner is not. We have embarked on an era of lawyers, legislators, and well-intentioned but terribly misguided do-gooders dictating how medical professionals with decades of education and experience must practice their arts.

The results have been catastrophic and promise only to get worse with legislation like L.D. 150.

Whether a patient should be subjected to drug testing is of interest only to the patient and his or her doctor, unless that individual has been convicted of a drug-related offense and such testing is a condition of release or probation.

Jeff Marsh

Shawmut