Argument for Drug Testing

High schools across the country have brought much attention to the idea of giving random drug tests to students in high school. The newfound interest in student drug testing may be as a result of recent polls, which have shown an increase in drug use among high school students. Many teachers, parents, and members of school comities are for the drug testing, while most students and some parents feel that this would be a violation of students rights as Americans, which is true.

A basic argument for the anti drug testing is the simple fact that random drug testing in schools would be an invasion of privacy. Without probable cause there is no need to do random drug tests, what happens to those children who have tried a drug such as "pot" and not liked it. If a random drug test happens to take place within a month of the time that child experimented with the drug, then they will suffer great consequences depending on the rules of that school. If a school goes as far as expelling students which fail the test then what justice is that to the children which are victims of circumstance and of experimentation, which is in place in all our lives.

Another problem with allowing schools to do random drug tests is the fact that we are allowing them to gain influence over the lives of students outside of school. Also giving authorities this power can easily lead to an abuse of fundamental rights, particularly those relating to privacy, dignity, and integrity. A problem that may have been overlooked by those who originally organized the idea is how the drug testing weather random or requiring consent will affect the students mentally. Those who refuse to give consent to be tested, or whose parents refuse consent, might face discrimination. It isn't clear weather testing serves any purpose. In some cases, a test might reveal that drugs were taken outside school hours, a time when the school has limited authority over a student,