The Rise of High School Drug Testing

School districts, much like employers, have begun				school athletes. In nearly every school district,
to implement drug-testing policies. Many school				students who wish to compete in school sports
officials cite statistics relating to school				must sign a release for a drug screening. This has
performance and safety among drug users.				become common in schools because of statistics
Whether the drug testing acts as a method of				showing that male high school athletes have a
screening students or as a method of deterrence				greater risk of drug abuse. These facts,
from drug use, the popularity of this practice has				accompanied by the fear of injury during
increased significantly in many school systems.				competitions, have fueled the debate and
Supporters of high school drug testing often cite				existence of drug testing among athletes.
governmental statistics. These numbers show a				Opponents of drug testing claim that it is a
steadily growing number of teenage drug users				violation of privacy to require students to take
each year. Those in favor of mandatory drug				drug tests. Privacy advocates suggest that with
testing suggest that such measures may be				requests for mandatory drug screenings comes
effective in keeping teenagers from using drugs.				the potential for abuse. A few cases have existed
Fear of facing expulsion from school or				in which a student was randomly searched and
punishment from their parents may be a good				found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. In
deterrent for high school students.				these cases, the students were either suspended
Although some officials would like to see a policy				from school or sent to drug rehabilitation centers;
of mandatory testing of every student, most				it is often the case that these students were
drug screenings require parental consent. Most				productive in school and were not necessarily
schools require that there be probable cause or				considered to be problem students. Regardless of
reasonable suspicion before requesting a drug test.				these isolated cases, many school districts defend
If a teacher notices a student who appears aloof				the benefits of drug testing. Although formal
or has red and glassy eyes, he or she may				statistics do not prove the theory, many
request a drug test.				educational experts believe that high school drug
More common than random or suspicion-based				testing deters students from using or abusing
high school drug testing is the testing of high				illegal drugs.