Drug Testing Should Be Legal For Schools

To begin with, it is an invasion of privacy to the students at the school. It is their business, and the school administrators do not need to be invading the privacy of what kids/young adults are contributing to outside of school. I for one would not want anyone, (especially school administrators) invading my personal privacy, exactly why drug testing should not be allowed in public schools.

In many high schools around the country, student athletes are using drugs. “The percent of students that have drunk alcohol is 72.5% while the number of students who have used marijuana is 36.8%” (Report: Nearly Half of High School Students Using Drugs, Alcohol). The students believe that since they are athletes that they do not need to abide by the rules because they feel more superior and that the narcotic will not hurt or affect them. Implementing random drug tests for athletes will create a positive image and not hurt others or themselves. Schools need to have drug tests for student athletes because drugs effect relationships, using drugs have consequences, and lastly they have a major effect on the body.

Slowly pushing students to become addicts, drug testing high school student athletes may or may not be to blame. In Facts & Statistics on Random Drug Testing of High School Students, Dr. M.H. Davis stated, “In the early 1990s, many school districts began to look into drug testing as a way to curb student drug use, which led to two U.S. Supreme Court cases involving student privacy. The court upheld the constitutionality of drug testing student athletes in 1995, and in 2002, the court expanded high school drug testing policies to include all students who participate in a competitive extracurricular activity. In those rulings, the court stated deterring student drug use was more important than privacy” (Davis). Drug testing high school athletes

However, drug testing is constitutional and has proven to be useful nationwide in America. A simple search on the World Wide Web will unveil the truth about the constitutionality of drug testing in America. Two major cases from Supreme Court, Vernonia School District 47J v. Acton and Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 of Pottawatomie County, et al, Petitioners v. Lindsay Earls et al, involved the challenging of officials’ ability to drug test students in order to participate in extracurricular activities. In both cases, the ruling resulted in a majority declaring these test requirements to be constitutional (“Prevention”). Along with the fact that testing has held its constitutionality in Supreme Court, evaluations have proven that the testing process effectively minimizes drug use among high school students in extracurricular activities. “Some 16 percent of students subject to drug testing reported using substances...in the past 30 days, compared with 22 percent of comparable students in schools without the program (‘The Effectiveness’).” This fact means that six percent less students in the high schools studied were not using drugs in the schools which had been implementing the drug tests. If this same number would be a proportionate reflection of all high schools in America, six percent more of high school students - about 3.3 million teenagers - would not be utilizing drugs and contracting the painful consequences later in life (“Fast Facts”). That is a humongous number which means a humongous number of kids would be drug-free, living healthier lives with even brighter futures. The constitutional drug testing in high school athletics could save over 3 million kids from having to endure possible years of life with painful illnesses like cancer during

Drug testing in public schools is an issue that the courts have had the main role in

But with the random drug testing of the students in school the drug use spiked down a lot. This goes to show that drug testing is very useful for students.

“A medical dictionary defines a drug as ‘any substance that when taken into the living organism may modify one or more of its functions’” (Newton 12). However, when speaking of drug testing for abuse a person is usually thinking about illegal drugs or drugs that can alter athletic performance in sporting events. Mandatory drug testing was not allowed in public schools until June 2002 when the Supreme Court allowed for public schools to do random drug testing (Carroll 23). This decision allowed for drug testing in all schools throughout the United States not just for athletes but also students who are in any activities within the school, for example clubs and competitive events (Carroll 23). Even though drug testing is now allowed by

I understand that in Braxton High School there has been an incredible increase in student arrest for drug possession during the mist of last school year. Two students died after using drugs at post prom party. The school would now like to activate random drug test. I also understand that a large group of students and parents

Forcing students to participating in these tests aren’t in fact a total positive on their lives. Many student athletes may feel separated from their peers because of these tests, which could very well end their continuation in athletics. In an article placed by the American Liberty Civils Union, stated that singling out students isn’t really fair. Think About it; Enforcing a rule on those who want to do what they love, only by giving up what they love. My argument is not that students love drugs, ironically, their addiction leads to bondage. The impulse of testing may in fact cause students to indulge in their substance use even further, and end their goals in athletics if necessary. All things considered, this doesn’t justify the actions taken. While a percent of students may be in the category described, a larger portion can be benefitted by the testing. It is even said in the same article that, “Mandatory drug tests are constitutional for after school sports and other extracurricular activities”(ACLU: KnowYourRights 3). To end drug usage in sports, can very well lead to the end of drug usage in the student body as a

Steve Klotz is an assistant superintendent in Missouri at the Maryville School District. He believes that children should get drug tested at the age of thirteen or fourteen to be able to play a sport. Many agree to have drug tests in Middle school not only to scare them but to see how they would change for a sport they love. Steve said “We wanted to do it to create a general awareness of drug prevention.” His idea is to prevent students from doing drugs at a very young age. Doing drugs or dealing with drugs at this age could ruin their future. Parents should agree with implementing drug tests for

“Why aren’t you doing softball this year? You're the best player on the team and your batting average is almost perfect!” I asked. “They did drug tests and I failed mine, so I can’t play this season.” I herd under a mumbled breathe. I shouted, “that is why schools should not have drug tests, they are restraining great athletes from doing what they do best! You have great grades, participate in extracurricular activities, and even help with food pantries outside of school so why would they be punishing you for this?” Schools should not be drug testing student athletes for these reasons: drugs do not determine the way students play, forbids them from playing a sport they like or are good at, and it restricts some students from participating in extracurricular activities because they are scared they might get drug tested.

1. "Drug Testing of Middle-School Students May Help Prevent Substance Abuse: Study." Partnership for Drug Free Kids. N.p., 8 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. .

The school send a letter down to your teacher in the middle of the school day saying that they need you in the nurse’s office because they have suspicion that you might have been doing drugs or you're just in an extracurricular activity. Then they tell you that your going to have to submit to a random drug test. now you could say no and have yourself look guilty as well as risk getting kicked out of school for refusal to comply with the school's policy because more and middle schools are putting drug testing programs in place as a way to potentially cut down on the use of drugs among middle schoolers.

Many high schools across the country have brought much attention to the idea of giving random drug tests to students in high school. The newfound interest in student drug testing may be as a result of recent polls, which have shown an increase in drug use among high school students. Many teachers, parents, and members of school comities are for the drug testing, while most students and some parents feel that this would be a violation of students rights as Americans, which is true.

It seems that drugs have become a major epidemic within teenagers in the last few years. There is only so much that can be done to try and eliminate drug use, while not dramatically changing anything in the community. Drug testing the district’s student athletes provides many reasons that it is a worthwhile expense. Lawyers, Mark Vetter and Daniel Chanen, stated in the Sports Law Institute Newsletter “First, student-athletes were the leaders of the drug culture” (Vetter and Chanen ¶3). This simple statement proves that athletes need to be drug tested; it will improve multiple circumstances within the district and the lives of athletes. Drug testing student athletes at the high school level is a step every school district needs to take in order to improve their schools, and the students’ lifestyles despite the high price tag on these tests.