Student Drug Testing: Effective?

Joy Martin

University Central Oklahoma

Oklahoma Teen Drug Use

32% of OK high school students have used marijuana

2% of OK high school students have used some form of cocaine

10% of adolescents ages 12-17 have used prescription pain relievers (for non-medical reasons)

Student Drug Testing

On June 27, 2002, Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court delivered the opinion of the Court:

“All students who participate in competitive extracurricular

activities to submit to drug testing. Because this Policy reasonably

serves the School District’s important interest in detecting and

preventing drug use among its students, we hold that it is

constitutional.”

Dissenting Opinion

The ruling “falls short doubly if deterrence is its aim: It invades the privacy of students who need deterrence least, and risks steering students at greatest risk for substance abuse away from extracurricular involvement that potentially may palliate drug problems.”

Illicit Drug Use Among 12 Graders

21% of Students reported using an illicit drug (other than marijuana) in a School with a Drug Testing Program

19% of Students reported using an illicit drug (other than marijuana) in a School without a Drug Testing Program

Marijuana Use Among 12th Graders

37% of Students reported using marijuana in a School with a Drug Testing Program

36% of Students reported using marijuana in a School without a Drug Testing Program

Drug Prevention Programs

D.A.R.E– Drug Abuse

Resistance Education

keepin’ it REAL– Refuse, Explain,

Avoid, Leave

Students receiving keepin’ it REAL reported lower alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette

use than students who did not receive the program. The effectiveness of the

curriculum resulted in the selection of keepin’ it REAL as one of SAMHSA’s model programs and its listing on the

National Registry of Effective Programs.

Parental Involvement

Open Communication

At-home testing kits

Zero tolerance