Random Drug Testing

Over the years drugs have been becoming more common when it comes to high schoolers. There has been a lot of controversy on whether or not random drug testing is a good or bad thing for athletes. Random drug testing is becoming more common to many schools throughout the world to help reduce substance drug abuse in athletes and to allow schools to help keep students safe. Random drug testing in high school athletes is a great way for adults to help kids overcome drug abuse. Drug testing in schools provides students with an excuse to not use drugs because of their leadership roles they may have in the community, school, or sports team (“Student Drug”). Many athletes are less likely to do drugs knowing that they are given random drug test throughout
Drug testing has became a very efficient tool to help give students the right treatment of rehab to help stop pre-assisting drug abuse along with future (Gerada). Student Drug Testing states, “If the confirmation test is positive, a physician who is trained in drug testing then reviews it and contacts the student to see if there is a legitimate medical reason for the positive test. Drug test results are confidential, and do not follow the student once he or she leaves high school (as per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)” (“Student Drug Testing”). This allows athletes the privacy if they may have an unknown medical conditions but also helps others who don’t admit to their drug abuse. By this most counselors can determine who needs help by identifying the users of any drugs (”School Drug Testing”). A positive school climate has proven to give better drug testing scores. For example, 15% of highschoolers are less likely to use cigarettes and 20% less likely to use marijuana if the athletes are in a positive school climate (Vimont). Besides athletes being held in a positive school climate drug testing has helped allow the use of drugs to go down and keep students
One argument that people have against drug testing athletes is that it may be too expensive and that money could be used for educational purposes. An example that shows this is incorrect is a school in Wisconsin started drug testing and one of their year cost was around $9,800 but was paid off with the help of private grants along with help from State Department of Instruction (Stein). If we could get more funding from community members, money would not be a problem. This would leave money for educational purposes like books, desks, paying substitutes, and etc with still allowing to do drug testing on athletes. Another argument people make against drug testing is that it violates the fourteenth amendment. However, Celia Vimont explains, “In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court held that random drug tests of student athletes do not violate the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures. In 2002, the Court decided that random drug tests of students involved in extracurricular activities do not violate the Fourth Amendment.” Although some people may argue that drug testing violates the fourteenth amendment and it takes money away from educational purposes, drug testing is still the easiest way for athletes to stay safe and limit the amount of drug abuse