Arguments Against Mandatory Drug Testing

CURRENT ISSUES AND ENDURING QUESTIONS SORROUNDING MANDATORY DRUG TESTING AT SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES

Introduction

Over the past several decades, mandatory drug testing policies at workplaces and schools has become more prevalent than ever. Although some people may view this as having only beneficial results, not everyone agrees, and some view this process as an ethical dilemma. As with many ethical dilemmas, there is a vast array of opinions held by individuals. The purpose of this paper is to examine some of these viewpoints in order to allow the reader to better understand this issue, enabling him or her to make a better informed decision as to whether mandatory drug testing is justifiable.

History of Mandatory Drug Testing Mandatory drug testing of
Many companies and schools view drug testing as justifiable. Whether these justifications are based on financial motives or employees and students well-being, both of these arguments hold some validity. In contrast, opponents of mandatory drug testing view this policy as an invasion of privacy that reduces trust between the ones testing and the ones that are tested. In addition to this, some are concerned with the accuracy of certain drug testing methods and the potential consequences of false positives. In theory, mandatory drug testing has only beneficial affects. In reality, mandatory drug testing has become a conundrum. The lack of uniform testing procedures and drug cut-off levels make this industry, and understanding it, very complex. In essence, an individual with the same amount of drug metabolites in his or her system could pass one drug test and then fail another one given by a different drug testing company. Basically, persons who have consumed the same amount of drugs could have conflicting drug test