Drug Testing in Schools

Drug Testing in Schools A growing number of schools in the U.S. are drug testing students in hopes that it will curb student drug use. Since the start of the process in the early nineteen nineties, most schools have figured out that it results in little effect(Gerada). Many people would say that drug testing in schools is a waste of limited school funds, illegal, invades the students privacy, and a distraction to studies. Therefore, random drug testing within schools should be banned or replaced with a more convenient and professional motion. Not every school or taxpayer can afford drug testing in schools since it’s so expensive. In 2003 and 2008, taxpayers paid more than $36 million to fund drug testing in schools.(Opinion) All that money has to go towards drug kits, lab results, and man hours for each student, and that adds up to be costly. The Journal of Youth and Adolescents says, “it isn’t money well spent.”(Opinion) The cheapest kit is about $14 to $30 per test, but the price still differs depending on the type of test given: urine $10-$50, hair $60-$75, saliva $10-$50, or sweat samples $20-$50.(Gerada) For every 500 high school student it cost $21,000. $42 per student.(Kern) For every positive test done, they have to do a second one to rule out a false positive test.(Kern) In one district, its $35,000 for 11 students who are positive.(Kern) Most officials also fail this to mention how distracting the drug testing process can be to the students studies In order for the testing procedure to occur, it needs to be within the limits of school time because students aren’t required to stay after hours unless they are serving time for discipline. Thus making teachers cancel classes for the day, and causing a delay in the educational curriculum. Random drug testing also gives students anxiety which leads to lower grades and outbursts of rebellious actions. In certain cases, students have even dropped out of school because they don’t want to risk getting caught, and faced with federal charges(Morgan). These are not the results higher authorities thought would come out of these tests, but they are proven facts that have to be considered.
Drug testing in school is illegal because it goes against the students right of the 4th amendment, the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The supreme court has come up with three ways in which drug testing does not violate the rights of a student. Drug testing has become common all across the country. One way a student can/shall be drug tested is if he/she is in a school sport. Students can be forced to take a drug test if they are in a junior high or high school sport. These drug can be given out randomly or they can be planned out. you have to take the drug test even if there is no reason to suspect one is under the influence. The cost, disruption, and validity of the drug testing process is too much for schools to uphold. Besides going directly to forcing students into drug testing, schools should consider some of the more reasonable alternatives. Informing the students through special courses about the dangerous consequences of drug use is a very rational approach, or counseling students who have drug-related issues is also a helpful alternative because it can help them with their addiction. Any of these options are more effective than drug testing in schools has ever shown to be, and should replace this intolerable act.

Works Cited
Gerade, Clare, and Eilish Gilvarry. “Random Drug Testing in Schools.” www.ncbi.nlm.nib.gov/ . British Journal of General Practice, 1 July 2005. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.
Kern, Jennifer, Fetema Gunja, Alexandra Cox, Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D., Judith Appel, J.D., and Anjuli Verma. Making Sense of Student Drug Testing, Why Educators Are Saying No. Digital image. Making Sense of Student Drug Testing, Why Educators Are Saying No. Drug Policy Alliance, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014. http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/drug_testing_booklet Morgan, K.C. “Arguments Against Drug Testing in Schools.” The Classroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.
"Parents, Students, Others Debate High-School Drug Testing." The Partnership at Drugfreeorg. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014
"Opinion L.A." Student Drug Testing Doesn 't Work [Blowback]. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014

Cited: Gerade, Clare, and Eilish Gilvarry. “Random Drug Testing in Schools.” www.ncbi.nlm.nib.gov/ . British Journal of General Practice, 1 July 2005. Web. 24 Jan. 2014. Kern, Jennifer, Fetema Gunja, Alexandra Cox, Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D., Judith Appel, J.D., and Anjuli Verma. Making Sense of Student Drug Testing, Why Educators Are Saying No. Digital image. Making Sense of Student Drug Testing, Why Educators Are Saying No. Drug Policy Alliance, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014. http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/drug_testing_booklet Morgan, K.C. “Arguments Against Drug Testing in Schools.” The Classroom. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2014. "Parents, Students, Others Debate High-School Drug Testing." The Partnership at Drugfreeorg. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014 "Opinion L.A." Student Drug Testing Doesn 't Work [Blowback]. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014