Directed by Randy Bradshaw
Airdate: November 10, 1990
Guest Stars: Peter Outerbridge (Jeff); Garry Chalk (Coach Brandon)
A group of students are determined to remove drugs from their high school, supporting an extreme measure offering free drug tests so students to prove they are drug-free (they wear red bands around their arms). The measures are in response to an ecstasy epidemic that led to the death of a student.
Hoffs and Penhall are assigned to find out who's manufacturing the ecstasy. Things are complicated when Hoffs tests positive for speed, forcing Fuller to take away her badge. Internal Affairs also investigates Hoffs, putting her through borderline harassment.
Penhall and McCann suspect Jeff, leader of the anti-drug cause and chemistry whiz, might be the culprit. As it turns out, it's the basketball coach! He gets arrested in his Winnebago (very Breaking Bad prescient). Hoffs also gets absolved when it's revealed her original test was a false reading, so all is well. She even takes revenge on the IA guy.
The episode does a suitable job of illustrating the anti-drug hysteria of the era, when schools began to implement things like the DARE program or the punk inspired straight edge movement. Slightly more adventurous than previous offerings from Season 5, the episode feels a bit passe but engaging.
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