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