Why should schools drug test students?
- Testing gives students a reason to say "no" when approached to use drugs.
- Random drug testing applies only to students who volunteer to participate in extracurricular activities such as athletics or, in some schools, to student drivers.
- Students who take leadership roles in the school community are role models and should be drug free.
- Random student drug testing occurs during a medically valid time to intervene because youth become addicted more easily than adults, and their recovery is more difficult.
- Most students don’t use drugs and have a right to safe and drug-free learning environments. School administrators need reasonable tools to stop drug users and drug dealers from ruining school for everyone.
- Testing gives parents an opportunity for early intervention and treatment.