Mandatory Drug Testing In Schools

The goal of mandatory drug testing would be to reduce student substance by deterring substance use, detecting substance use, and the influence of the behaviors of students peers. Students involved in extracurricular activities, such as sports that are subject to in school drug testing, report less drug use than students in high school that do not play a sport and do not get drug tested. By drug testing the Athens student body would help by insure a safe, secure, and healthy school environment where students can reach their full academic potential to learn. Athens High schools goal should be to identify students with possible drug abuse issues and to intervene. Students should be required to take drug test to be allowed to park on campus. Less drugs in

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

issue, which leaves it up to the courts to decide. The issue of public college drug testing

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

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. .

Research done by Bilchek and Crowe (1998) concludes that there are a host of problems that can arise when using prescription and illegal drugs. The most common problems that can arise have to do with academics, physical and mental health and delinquency (Bilchek and Crowe 1998). When students begin experimenting with illegal and prescription drugs, it can cause a destructive ripple effect in their lives. Beginning with academics, students that abuse illegal drugs may begin to have declining grades, a lack of motivation, and skip class more often. When students are concentrated on getting the next high, they will lose the motivation to study and keep up their grades. It could even escalate as far as skipping class or dropping out. This leads to poor performance and a downward spiral effect. If an individual becomes more concerned with the next high or rush he or she gets than their education, they will be unfortunately more likely to drop out. As a result of dropping out, the only option as a source of income is to find a low paying job to pay for the addiction that will inevitably form and be difficult to overcome. Not only will substance abuse have an effect on one’s academic career, but their physical and mental state as well. When an individual is under the influence, their ability to make suitable choices is considerably hindered. This can lead to injuries from

As Hutton (1992) argued that too often schools employ a drug-testing policy for symbolic basis. For example, schools may implement a drug-testing policy because drug use is a serious national concern or to set an example of a zero-tolerance policy,

NCEE’s says that “the goal of the mandatory drug testing program was to reduce student substance use in three ways--by deterring substance use, by detecting substance use, and by having spillover effects on other students in school as they observe and are influenced by the behaviour of their peers.”

“17% of teens drink, smoke, and use drugs during the day in the United States.”(Adler) This is the result of the absence of drug testing in our community, especially in our school. An analysis fact from CDC’s objective Terry Pechacek states that 50 million people do drugs in the united states and 4 million of them are underage and the majority of them are in a high school athletic. Citizens predict that this percentage number will slowly pullulate and gradually more high school athletes will be exposed to drugs. Schools should allow drug tests to be permitted on high school athletes because taking drugs are unfair to the sport, drugs harm the body mentally and physically, and it can ruin future opportunities for athletes if they get scholarships to universities.

To begin, drug testing should be integrated into high school sports, because athletes would be prevented from gaining an unfair advantage. This would allow athletes to be better than others. According to Procon.org “Sport is meant to be about honesty - what you see is all there is. Doping is part of an evil influence extending to match fixing and gambling that has always been a (hidden) part of professional sport, but which will likely ultimately destroy it…Rather, sport becomes no different from any other commercially driven activity” (Noakes). Athletes are constantly looking for the next thing that will give them an edge. High School students who are on the threshold to earning a scholarship often look for the next best thing. Many new

In the article titled “Should Colleges Be Allowed to Enforce Mandatory Drug Testing…” Linn State Technical College in Missouri implemented mandatory drug testing for all students as part of the general admissions process. Linn State Technical College explains their reasoning behind the drug testing as part of their mission to “prepare students for profitable employment and a life of learning”. Lawsuits have been filed against the college stating that the students Fourth Amendment rights have been violated. One of the main reasons school officials stand by the mandatory drug testing policy is for the students who are enrolled in programs that involve operating of heavy equipment.

593,000 teenagers have tried inhalants such as glue, gasoline, or nitrous oxide to get high for the first time in the last year(qtd “The Truth About Inhalants"). 1 in 5 students use marijuana regularly, 18 percent of teenagers use tobacco products, 14 percent abuse prescription drugs(“Drug Facts”). To counter this, schools have began to adopt policies which require students who wish to join a club, play a sport, or do school activities to sign up for random drug tests. Its becoming very popular in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Although many parents say that drug testing in high schools and middle school is an invasion of privacy the NFL, NCAA, US government, and I agree that such tests protect students and athletes from the many dangers of drug use.

Many schools have broad anti-drug policies and have tightened their safety procedures in attempt to combat the growing drug abuse statistics. But how far is too far for ‘safety’? In the past ten years, schools have gained nearly free reign over their ability to try to control drug use among their students.

Many students used prohibited drugs. Schools must required drug testing to filter out the drug users. If they already know the people who used drugs, they will proceed to counseling. In that way, they will know the reasons of the students why they are taking prohibited drugs. The guidance counselor is the one who will guide the students for good. If someone is detected using drugs it is not important that they are caught doing wrong and they will not be kicked out of the school.(Pemberton/2011/par.3) Instead, he or she will be helped by the school for guidance. Mandatory drug test can help for student's future career. If he or she is not guided by the school, he or she will not succeed in life. Mandatory drug test can also help from student's safety. It can benefit a lot someone's

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.