Why do schools conduct drug testing?
Not all schools conduct drug testing, but those who do aim to decrease drug abuse among youth. Drug tests in schools help fight drug abuse by prevention and early mediation. Students would think several times before succumbing to peer pressure on taking drugs and alcohol, as they are aware of the school’s stand on this matter and they may also be afraid of getting caught during drug tests. Students who are already into using drugs may be immediately referred for treatment. Early mediation usually makes the process a lot easier.
Will drug testing of students eventually eliminate drug abuse in schools?
Drug testing must not be taken as a stand-alone solution. It is an important part of a school’s drug policy, but not its only main part. An effective drug policy should consist of programs for prevention, detection, intervention and treatment. Only a well-planned drug policy will be able to help a community effectively reduce drug use.
Should a student be suspended or expelled after testing for drug use?
The drug testing policy of a school must be adopted not to punish those who are using drugs, but to help them through rehabilitation as well as to help others who are not using understand the risks of drug abuse and avoid use of illegal drugs.
What are the drug testing methods available?
The school administrators may choose, according to their community’s needs, among the drug testing methods available, such as hair follicle, urine, oral fluid (saliva) and sweat testing. These methods may differ in the kind of drugs detected, the detection time, the testing time, the ease of collection of samples, the accuracy and the cost.
Tags: drug abuse schools, school drug test, student drug abuse, youth drug abuse
