Random drug testing in high schools should be mandatory nationwide. It has been looked at for the past few years as a way to help schools all over the country reduce the issues that drugs are causing. People have many different opinions whether random drug testing should be allowed in schools or not. Including random drug testing in a daily school day reduces and prevents drug usage and abuse. It also has been proven it increases test scoring and graduation rates. Drug testing ensures for better and safer schools all around the country.
Random drug testing helps to reduce and prevent the usage and abuse of drugs. "A Columbia University national survey of teens found that about 62 percent (9.5 million students) report drugs are used, sold, or kept at their school” (Addiction, 2009). All of the addictions and usage problems can add up to about 41 million dollars in extra costs for the school when you include counseling, property damage, medical bills, and other costs. " The United States Supreme Court found that drug testing students who participate in extracurricular activities is a reasonably effective means of addressing a school district's legitimate interest in preventing, deterring, and detecting drug use" (Addiction, 2009). In recent surveys around schools that use RSDT (Random Student Drug Testing), students, teachers, and principals have seen a 41 percent decrease in drug use. In another study that was taken at a few schools in India that were using the RSDT Program, students and teachers were surveyed after two years of using random drug testing. The participants stated that student drug use decreased and extracurricular activity involvement stayed the same. Principals that were surveyed even said that they saw a 45 percent increase in extracurricular activities. Principals were also surveyed to determine if they noticed any negative impact on random drug testing. 100 percent of the principals reported that there was no negative impact in the classroom and outside of school due to the random drug testing. Random drug testing in schools can positively effect students and their abusive actions towards drugs.
Another reason the random drug testing should become a daily process in schools is because it increases test scores and graduation rates. Since student drug use has proven to be lower when random drug testing is in place, it allows for students to study more and exceed in school. 80 percent of the schools that are involved in random drug testing achieved higher scores than the state average on the mandated graduation test for grades 10-12. 80 percent had more 10th graders passing the two graduation exam standards than the state average. 75 percent had graduation rates higher than state average. Since random drug testing has been implemented into these schools, student’s academic achievements have greatly increased. The working conditions have become very safe and peaceful since the chance of someone sitting next to you in class uses drugs has decreased.
Many people argue that random drug testing violates student privacy. Upon examination, these concerns have turned out to be over exaggerated by many people. "The Supreme Court, in fact, carefully weighed the privacy issue, ultimately determining that a school's interest in protecting children from the influence of drugs outweighs their expectation of privacy” (Addiction, 2009). The test results are not shared with anyone but the students, their parents and a counselor, if needed. The benefits of RSTD clearly outweigh the risks associated with teen drug use. How would you like to be sitting next to someone that is under the use of drugs, and have the potential to harm you?
Citations:
McKinney, Joseph R. "Random Drug Testing Can Prevent Student Drug Abuse." Addiction, edited by Christina Fisanick, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010103280/OVIC?u=nysl_ro_hflms&xid=b085de03. Accessed 19 Jan. 2017. Originally published as "The Effectiveness and Legality of Random Student Drug Testing Programs Revisited," RandomStudentDrugTesting.org, 13 Dec. 2005.
Random drug testing helps to reduce and prevent the usage and abuse of drugs. "A Columbia University national survey of teens found that about 62 percent (9.5 million students) report drugs are used, sold, or kept at their school” (Addiction, 2009). All of the addictions and usage problems can add up to about 41 million dollars in extra costs for the school when you include counseling, property damage, medical bills, and other costs. " The United States Supreme Court found that drug testing students who participate in extracurricular activities is a reasonably effective means of addressing a school district's legitimate interest in preventing, deterring, and detecting drug use" (Addiction, 2009). In recent surveys around schools that use RSDT (Random Student Drug Testing), students, teachers, and principals have seen a 41 percent decrease in drug use. In another study that was taken at a few schools in India that were using the RSDT Program, students and teachers were surveyed after two years of using random drug testing. The participants stated that student drug use decreased and extracurricular activity involvement stayed the same. Principals that were surveyed even said that they saw a 45 percent increase in extracurricular activities. Principals were also surveyed to determine if they noticed any negative impact on random drug testing. 100 percent of the principals reported that there was no negative impact in the classroom and outside of school due to the random drug testing. Random drug testing in schools can positively effect students and their abusive actions towards drugs.
Another reason the random drug testing should become a daily process in schools is because it increases test scores and graduation rates. Since student drug use has proven to be lower when random drug testing is in place, it allows for students to study more and exceed in school. 80 percent of the schools that are involved in random drug testing achieved higher scores than the state average on the mandated graduation test for grades 10-12. 80 percent had more 10th graders passing the two graduation exam standards than the state average. 75 percent had graduation rates higher than state average. Since random drug testing has been implemented into these schools, student’s academic achievements have greatly increased. The working conditions have become very safe and peaceful since the chance of someone sitting next to you in class uses drugs has decreased.
Many people argue that random drug testing violates student privacy. Upon examination, these concerns have turned out to be over exaggerated by many people. "The Supreme Court, in fact, carefully weighed the privacy issue, ultimately determining that a school's interest in protecting children from the influence of drugs outweighs their expectation of privacy” (Addiction, 2009). The test results are not shared with anyone but the students, their parents and a counselor, if needed. The benefits of RSTD clearly outweigh the risks associated with teen drug use. How would you like to be sitting next to someone that is under the use of drugs, and have the potential to harm you?
Citations:
McKinney, Joseph R. "Random Drug Testing Can Prevent Student Drug Abuse." Addiction, edited by Christina Fisanick, Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010103280/OVIC?u=nysl_ro_hflms&xid=b085de03. Accessed 19 Jan. 2017. Originally published as "The Effectiveness and Legality of Random Student Drug Testing Programs Revisited," RandomStudentDrugTesting.org, 13 Dec. 2005.