Students say expanded drug testing is positive: 68 percent believe testing a deterrent to using drugs
In the first semester under the school system’s expanded drug testing policy, 692 drug tests were performed, which yielded a total of nine positive results.
School system federal programs director Priscilla Wanamaker, whose department oversees the testing, voiced excitement at the low number of true positives when presenting the data to the Warren County Board of Education Thursday night.
The school board voted to expand the system’s drug testing policy, which previously had affected only athletes, to students in all extracurricular activities — from band to FFA — after being allowed to do so by a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2002. It was the school board’s hope the new policy would further discourage student drug use and make schools safer. The expanded policy took effect in August.
According to Wanamaker, as of Jan. 12 the system has paid a total of $13,840, or $20 per test, to Maximus, the company contracted to perform the random tests. It’s money board members consider well spent.
“Drug use is something we want to catch as early as we can,” said school board member Mike Holland.
Added board member Larry Judkins, “Our goal here is not to condemn the students (who test positive), but to help them.”
In addition to the drug test results, Wanamaker also presented the results of a survey given to students and teachers regarding the expanded drug policy.
The survey found 63 percent of respondents agree the drug testing policy is fair and appropriate, with 17 percent disagreeing and 20 percent having no opinion. Additionally, 68 percent agree drug testing serves as a deterrent to using drugs, with 11 percent disagreeing and 21 percent having no opinion.
School board student advisory committee member Allison George, who is a senior at the high school and has been tested twice already, told board members she thinks the random aspect of the testing is a good idea.
Asked any concerns students might have, she said many of her fellow classmates felt it wasn’t fair only students in extracurricular activities are being tested, while those not involved in any club or sport are not subject to the tests.
“I wish we could do more,” said Holland in response, “but the Supreme Court, and our funds, only allows us to do extracurricular activities.”
Said school board member Bob Young of the limited testing policy, “I think it’s sad. The ones who are in extracurricular activities aren’t usually the ones doing drugs. It’s the ones who aren’t doing anything.”
Survey says…
Results of a survey of 200 students and teachers in grades 7-12 regarding the expanded drug testing policy which now covers students in all extracurricular activities:
The drug testing policy is fair and appropriate.
-63% agree
-17% disagree
-20% no opinion
Drug testing in schools serves as a deterrent to drug use.
-68% agree
-11% disagree
-21% have no opinion
Random sampling
is fair.
-51% agree
-22% disagree
-27% no opinion
Warren County Schools should continue testing for all extracurricular activities.
– 59% agree
– 20.5% disagree
– 20.5% no opinion