Drug testing students helps fight against abuse
Results of Warren County’s expanded drug testing are in and every indication is the program has been a rousing success.
It’s been only one semester since drug testing was broadened to include students who participate in all extracurricular activities. Previously, the county’s drug testing program had involved only athletes.
In trying to take an aggressive approach in the fight against drug abuse, school officials decided to expand the drug testing program here based on a 2002 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court. Soon after that decision, the Warren County Board of Education voted to expand its own policy with the hope it might discourage drug use and make schools safer.
There’s no clear way to determine if drug testing is making schools safer, but in a recently released survey of students and teachers from the seventh to 12th grades, 68 percent said they believed the drug testing did serve as a deterrent to using drugs.
It could be said if drug testing prevented one child from using drugs it would be a success. But if it makes over two-thirds of the students involved in extracurricular activities think long and hard about their decisions, there’s no other way but to view the program favorably.
The underlying goal is to keep students – our children – off drugs. When that can take place at a very reasonable cost ($20 per test), the school system should be commended for having the courage and vision to put such a program in place.
The primary gripe associated with the county’s drug testing program is it doesn’t include all students. That’s based on the Supreme Court ruling which did expand the right to drug test students, but it didn’t extend that right to include every person who attends a public school.
It’s been pointed out by more than one person that students involved with extracurricular activities are the least likely to use drugs. That’s supported by the fact only nine positive drug tests were returned from a total of 692 Warren County students. That’s a positive test just 1.3 percent of the time.
It could certainly be argued the numbers would be higher if the entire school system was subject to the test and several people responded in such a way in an anonymous survey.
“Most people who do drugs will not play sports anyway sooo ? everybody should be tested no matter what,” read the response.
Another response said more concisely, “It should be for all students.”
Current U.S. law doesn’t allow for all students to be drug tested and it doesn’t appear likely such a rule will be altered any time soon. That means the school system must make due the best it can and that’s by random drug testing every student it can.
In the constant battle against drug abuse, every little edge matters. And if drug testing can help keep just a handful of students off drugs, or provide early assistance to others found with drugs in their system, it’s worth the effort.