Should Random Drug Testing Be Mandatory in School?

Karen

Thesis

• Random drug testing should not be mandatory unless there is prior justification.

What is a random drug test?

• Examination of urine, semen, blood, sweat, or oral fluid examples to determine the presence or absence of a specified drugs

• Usually a four step process– Collection– Screening– Confirmation– Review

Who Conducts the tests?

• Laboratories all over the country

• Not all reliable

• Choose laboratory that detects drugs your searching for

Cost

• $10-$30 per test• Hair testing costs

more• Onsite alcohol test

between $1-$10

Different Kinds of Tests

• Urinalysis• Hair• Sweat Patch• Oral fluids

Urine Test

• PROS• Highest reliability• Least Expensive• Most flexible • Most likely to

withstand legal challenge

• CONS• Specimen can be

altered or substituted

• Limited detection window

• Biological hazard• Viewed as

embarrassing

Hair

• PROS• Longer detection

window• Does not deteriorate• Measure chronic

drug use• Convenient shipping• More difficult to alter• Detects alcohol and

cocaine

• CONS• More expensive• Limited to basic 5-

drug panel• Will not detect

recent drug use

Sweat Patch

• PROS• Non-invasive• Longer window of

detection• No sample

substitution possible

• CONS• Limited number of

labs• Passive exposure to

drugs may contaminate

• Some can’t wear the patch

Oral Fluids

• PROS• Minimal risk of

tampering• Can detect alcohol

use• Reflects recent drug

use

• CONS• Short detection

period• Less efficient

detecting marijuana

Beat the test

• Things people may add to beat the test are:– Salt– Bleach– Vinegar

• May drink a lot of water

False Positives

• Marijuana– Ibuprofen– Advil– Motrin– Midol– Pamprin

• Cocaine– Kidney disease

(infection)– Liver disease– Diabetes

• Amphetamine– Robitussin Cold and Flu – Asthma medication – Vicks inhaler

• Opiate– Poppy seeds– Tylenol with codeine– Vicodin

• Ecstasy– Nyquil – Sudafed– Robitussin cold and flu

Could it lead to worse habits?

• Could lead to worse drug use

• Turn to drugs that are harder to test

• Club drugs

Movie Debating Drug Testing

Should it be the parents responsibility?

• Most high school students are under the age of eighteen– Violates the fourth amendment by forcing

search of person without a cause

• If the school is concerned parents should be notified and parents can take care of it.

School Atmosphere

• Telling students they assume they are using drugs until they prove otherwise

• Not necessarily nervous of not passing but loss of dignity and trust

Distrust

• Promotes distrust

• Want to teach honesty not distrust and accusing others

• Turn against authority

• To enforce random drug testing is to view them as guilty until proven innocent

Another Solution

• Extra-curricular activities

• Try to enforce better parental relationships with there children

• Child safety

• Counseling

Athletes

• Athletes should be tested

• Also for steroids

• More frequent

Teachers

• Usually need to pass one to get the job

• If they can’t perform in the class properly then take drugs into consideration

Benefits of Drug testing

• Catch the students before they might hurt themselves or others.

• No one knows (unless you tell)

• Drugs are dangerous

• Students that don’t brake the law don’t have to worry.

Works CitedNational Institue on Drug Abuse. 27 May 2008 <http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/testingfaqs.html>.

Office of National Drug Control Policy. 27 May 2008 <http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/index.html>.

Office of National Drug Control Policy. Administering the Test. 9 May 2008 <http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/drug_testing/administering.html>.

Quest Diagnostics. 27 May 2008 <http://www.questdiagnostics.com/employersolutions/dti_07_2004/dti_index.html>.

Random Student Drug Testing. 27 May 2008 <http://www.randomstudentdrugtesting.org/about.html>.