Pros And Cons Of School Drug Testing

990 Words4 Pages
Teen Privacy: Pros and Cons of School Drug Testing In 1985 the United States Supreme Court ruled a law that allowed schools around the country the right to drug test any student of illegal drug use of any particular suspicion. This law became a more controversial issue ten years later, in 1995, that allowed all schools the right to randomly test their athletes and students involved in extra curricular activities (Black). Lake Zurich is one of the few area's in Chicago that decided to screen select students for their use of drugs in their schools. Each test checks for the use of marijuana, amphetamines, opiates and other illegal drugs including steroids (Black). While some argue that this action is a violation of student privacy rights, others feel that drug testing will help students make positive and healthy decisions in their everyday lives outside of school. For those students who test positive on any of their drug test, they are kicked off their sport or club for the remainder of the season. Though with approximately the cost of fourty to sixty dollars per hair sample drug tests, the schools cannot afford to test everyone. All students not participating in any sport or extracurricular activity of any kind are excluded from this process, and still then Lake Zurich Community School District only tests fifteen of those students a year. Whether this process is effective or not, many parents and students concern that this action is a violation of student privacy rights and that will draw attention to other students and athletes that people see as "leaders of the school". One of the couple pros of school drug testing is that it will act as a demonstration to stay away from drugs to the entire student body. Those involved in activities and sports at school will make better and healthier choices so the rest of the students will follow their actions. What

More about Pros And Cons Of School Drug Testing

Open Document