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High School Drug Testing
In response to faculty and parental concerns,
Congress introduced a bill in 1999 “to require local educational
agencies to develop and implement a random drug testing and counseling
program for students in grades nine to twelve with parental consent.
Under this proposal, known as the Parental Consent Drug Testing and
Counseling Act, random drug tests would be performed on high school
students and services would be provided to counsel students who tested
positive (Congress Proposes Drug Testing).
Supporters claim that random drug testing will
remove the temptation of drugs from high school students. The Drug Free
America Foundation has stated that it is critical to deter drug use
during high school, because children on drugs can’t learn. If they
can’t learn, they will have an extremely tough time succeeding in life.
Many feel that a Zero Tolerance policy is the
answer, which is “consistently enforced suspension and expulsion from
school for weapons, drugs, and violent acts in the school setting”
(High School Drug testing).
Many schools are implementing one or more of the
following: comprehensive drug-abuse education and drug awareness
programs, anti-drug policies, and drug testing programs. Some parents
have also begun drug testing their children at home as a preventive
measure.
Representative John E. Peterson is a proponent of
drug testing high school students and states, “The only way to have
drug-free schools is to follow the successful program of the military
and the workplace.” He says that a reduction in drug use could also
help prevent violence in schools.
Studies confirm that high school drug testing helps
kids stay off drugs. It’s hard to imagine our own children using drugs
before, during, or after school. But chances are, kids today will be
faced with, “Should I or shouldn’t I?” Young people have many stresses
and the notion that “drugs will make you feel better” can have a lot of
appeal. In terms of both benefits and costs, drug testing high school
teenagers makes sense (National Institute on Drug
Abuse).
The following is a typical high school drug testing policy:
Purpose: To establish a drug-free and safe learning environment
for all students; reduce or eliminate peer pressure to use drugs;
identify high school students involved in substance abuse; provide
professional assistance through treatment; and improve overall academic
performance by reducing detention, expulsion, and suspension rates.
Provides: Manpower; assistance to implement a drug free
environment; program-funded drug testing; free drug-abuse assessments;
and services for those who test positive.
Confidential: testing results will never be part of a student’s academic record; and confidentiality will be fully maintained.
Non-Punitive: school personnel will not initiate criminal
charges; a student will never be suspended or expelled from school
based on a positive drug test result.
By helping kids stay off drugs, treatment reduces
expenses for drug-related law enforcement, foster care, health
services, and cuts down on absenteeism at school. The purpose of drug
testing high school students is not to catch or condemn them, it is to
educate and liberate teenagers in order to enable them to live healthy
and productive lives (High school drug testing).
Works Cited
“Congress Proposes Drug Testing” Drug Testing. 1999. 26 Apr. 2005 http://www.wdsn.org/summer99/test1.htm
“High School Drug Testing” High School Drug Testing. 2005. 26 Apr. 2005
http://www.drug-testing.narcotics.com/high-school-testing.htm
“National Institute on Drug Abuse” U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. 2002. NIH Publications No. 93-3571
“School Drug Testing Policy” School Drug Testing City and County
Honolulu. 2005. 28 Apr. 2005
http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/
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