Mandatory School Drug Testing

By : Nate Rodnay

Many schools are implementing mandatory drug testing for their students. It is significant to understand that school drug testing doesn’t intend to punish the drug-abused students, but to keep them away from drugs. As high school sports get more and more competitive, there seems to be much inclination to use drugs among students for enhancing their performance. Student’s drug abuse was also influenced by some other reasons like, failure in academics, friend’s manipulation, pressure and dread.

As per the reviews of White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), there are about 15,000 schools in United States, which are implementing mandatory drug testing for their students.

Why Mandatory School Drug Testing
Students under the influence of drugs cannot perform well in academics comparing to their drug-free peers. As the school drug testing decreases the illicit usage of drugs, it would be easy to eliminate the obstacles in the academic achievement. The major aspects of mandatory school drug testing include, random drug testing, anti-drug education, searches of lockers and personal belongings and as such.

The drug influence can easily turn to addiction. Students who are under drug influence are more likely to be failures than the drug free students and may even withdraw from the school. As a result, such students are likely to be unemployed and may commit crimes in order to satisfy their needs.

Benefits Of Mandatory School Drug Testing
People who implement mandatory school drug testing believe to have the following benefits that they realize through this approach.

• Recognize Drug Usage In Athletes: The athletes under the drug influence become energetic. Due to this privileged physical capability they win over their competitors. And this occasional drug abuse develops into an addiction at some point of time. Therefore, by performing drug tests such incidents can be avoided.

• Preventive Measure: The positive result of drug testing can discourage and prevent the students from the drug abuse. These testing can help the students understand and realize the consequences of drug abuse.

• Detection and Referral: Drug testing may also be used to detect and refer for proper assistance for the students who have drug problems. Some schools use drug testing to provide treatment for drug abuse and ensure that they’re drug free.

Reduce School Violence: The behavior of substance-abused students spoils the school environment. School drug testing can also minimize the hostility in the school caused by the drug-abusing students. Therefore schools can become much safer and peaceful and can maintain a positive learning atmosphere.

This information illustrates the necessity of mandatory school drug testing and its benefits.