Mandatory Drug Testing In Schools Essay

Drugs are a deadly killer that have entered our schools and are ruining the lives of countless students and families. Drugs destroy the adolescent brain, leading to undesirable consequences such as academic challenges, drug dependency and addiction. Drug testing in high schools is a solution that can prevent the use of drugs among teens and avert horrifying outcomes such as altered brain function and even death. Mandatory drug testing should be enforced in schools to prevent illicit drug use, which will help eliminate access to drugs, increase academic performance, and prevent students from falling into a vicious cycle of life time drug abuse. Schools should mandate drug testing because drugs are readily available on high school campuses,
Drug abuse contributes to kids not completing their education and without a high school diploma, they have a difficult time in finding a job. With no source of income, these kids have little opportunity to succeed and continue using drugs, which in turns leads to a life of poverty and crime. While it is true that opponents of mandatory drug testing “often cite research studies suggesting that the testing of students does nothing to reduce youth drug addiction rates” (Lee 10), Hunterdon Central Regional High school reports that “drug use at Hunterdon has declined, with cocaine use among seniors dropping from 13 percent to 4 percent and the number of 10th graders reporting little or no use of drugs or alcohol increasing from 41.8 percent to 47.3 percent” (White House Office 13). Hunterdon Central Regional High school dispels the notion that drug testing has no effect on drug use, and in fact, shows drug testing to be beneficial. If drug testing in high schools can prevent kids from using of drugs, it is an invaluable tool that needs to be used since not only does the child develop normally, but everyone benefits including students, families, and