Which statement would qualify as slander, given it was spoken and untrue?

Slander refers specifically to the act of making false, damaging statements about someone in a spoken form. In this context, the statement regarding the plaintiff's supposed drug use qualifies as slander because it is verbal, untrue, and negatively impacts the reputation of the plaintiff.

The discussion by the supervisor implies an accusation that could harm the individual’s standing, particularly in a professional setting. Since it was spoken and not communicated in a written form, it meets the criteria for slander as opposed to libel, which pertains to written statements.

Other options do not qualify as slander: the newspaper article is written, therefore it would fall under libel, the private journal does not constitute a publication to a third party, and the letter, while potentially damaging, is written and also considered libel. Thus, option B stands out as the clear instance of slanderous communication.