Dostis, M. (2013, October 02) wrote an article, at Northeastern University, on how drug testing is an ineffective way to prevent substance abuse on Linn State College. The purpose of this article was to explain why drug testing is not an effective method of preventing substance abuse on college campuses. The article explained how Linn State College had tried a popular technique, drug testing, to choose potential students, like employers choose potential job candidates, based off their drug test results. Linn, Montana’s state college had started drug testing incoming and some returning students around 2011. In 2013, a judge ruled that this policy was unconstitutional and since the school has stopped testing potential students. However, was this an effective strategy at preventing drug use? Susan Foster, the vice …show more content…
I started with researching the school’s with the most substance abuse. Although most of the article focused on alcohol and marijuana it did say that some arrests were made on illicit drugs on campuses, but they did not clarify which kinds of drugs. So I decided to focus on the top three schools with the most drug arrests and see if there were any news articles or information on heroin abuse on their campuses. Then I looked for substance abuse preventions that work for any level since most substance abuse programs on college are not highly effective. Once I obtained all my research, I picked out the information from sources I thought would be helpful. I categorized the information into two categories: literature related to existing strategies which are not effective and literature on recommended strategies which will be more effective. I then outlined what I wanted to say for each source and the order I should write the sources in. Lastly, I wrote the paper and put all the sources into APA style. After I printed the paper and edited it after a couple days to find any mistake that could be
The side in favor of random testing argues that the effects of its implementation are only positive. The concern of drug abuse seems to outweigh the possible issue of privacy invasion. An article supporting the topic states, “The Supreme Court, in fact, carefully weighed the privacy issue, ultimately determining that a school’s interest in protecting children from the influence of drugs outweighs their expectation of privacy” (Walters). Those who support drug testing argue that illegal drug use in the United States is a major issue, and the amount of minors using drugs today demands a solution or program to help prevent use of various illegal drugs. An argument in favor of random student drug tests points out the massive amount of money attributed to dealing with drug abuse every year. “Substance abuse adds at least $41 billion dollars each year to the costs of elementary and secondary education in terms of special education, truancy, counseling, teacher turnover, property damage, injury, and other costs” (McKinney). With these random tests in place in schools, the costs associated with drug abuse could decrease as a
Middle School. The gateway to the rest of your life. Where kids start to figure out their true selves, trying to be cool, feuds with friends, judgment, popularity, crushes, fashion. Many kids try new things and try to fit in. The choices when you make can influence you for the rest of your life. Although many think it is unconstitutional, middle school drug testing may help kids make the right decisions. Drug abuse has been an issue for a really long time. I think that drug testing in middle school will prevent drug and alcohol use in high school, make schools a safe environment, and get addicted kids help before it’s too late.
University drug tests could be the most effective method in preventing young adults from future drug addiction. According to a research conducted by the National Drug Control Policy, random drug testing in academic facilities has effectively reduced drug use from 18.5% to 11.8% among young adults (Anonymous-NDCP). This research suggests that if universities conduct drug tests, there would be a significant decrease in students who use prescription stimulants illicitly.
The drug epidemic has become an issue across the United States, reaching even the smallest towns and villages. Now, because of this epidemic, many schools are starting to drug test their students. With more and more schools starting to drug test, more debates about these tests have started to come up. Some people say that they are a great idea, saying it can help prevent drug abuse. While others disagree and say they do more harm and won’t help fix the problem. These debates have opened up very interesting and sometimes very heated conversations, and the ultimate goal is to reach a decision which satisfies everyone.
In June of 2002, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled drug testing in public schools constitutional in the case of Pottawatomie County v. Earls. This ruling widened the allowance of drug testing in public schools to every student who participates in competitive clubs, sports or extracurricular activities, not just athletics (“Frequently Asked Questions”). The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) rules state that “A student shall not at any time, regardless of the quantity: use or consume, have in possession a beverage containing alcohol; use or consume, have in possession tobacco; or, use or consume, have in possession, buy, sell or give away any other controlled substance or drug paraphernalia” (MSHSL). The policy explains that every student
Drugs are being use all over the world from young teens to the elderly with no way of preventing them from harming others and even themselves. How do these people get jobs with these drug addictions or massive consumption of drugs? That’s where drug testing comes into play. Drug testing is a test given to people for many reasons such as for jobs, abuse of substances,and even just a parent suspecting their teeager is using it. But with these test there are many positive but also negative effects that come from drug testing.
Teens estimated that 47% of classmates drink alcohol; 40% use drugs; 30% smoke cigarettes. Sixty percent of high school students and 32% of middle school students say students keep or sell drugs on campus. In private high schools, 54 % said this happens. Some schools around the country now require a drug test because they don't want them ruining their education or life. It would be a wonderful idea to drug test because students need to be supervised. It would be better if it was known that they weren't doing drugs so that they can receive help. It is a great idea to test for drugs because they can affect students grades,drugs can give students unfair advantage in sports, and drugs can kill brain cells.
Drug testing in high schools is an important component to decreasing drug use by students, however, a better testing system needs to be created. Some student athletes use steroids to enhance their ability to perform at sports. Steroids do not show true talent by these athletes (cartoon). Students need to be reminded that true skill is more important than relying on drugs to win.Drug testing that relies on student honesty about whether they use drugs, isn’t helpful in decreasing drug use. Studies based on students admitting to drug use aren’t useful. Students might lie so as not to get in trouble. Random drug testing avoids this issue, as the students won’t be able to tamper with the test, or lie (graph). Some students dislike drug testing
The use of illicit drug abuse among high school students has gradually increased over the years and has become a major concern for not only the student abusers themselves, but for their peers and the learning environment. Many dangers begin to arise when teens participate in the abuse of illicit drugs. Students not only harm themselves, but they create hazards for their friends, who only want to “fit in”. Given that the use of drugs as a teen directly correlates with high dropout rates, it is imperative to seek out the abuser to help secure a bright future for them. Although some claim it is an invasion of privacy and is embarrassing, I strongly feel that students should face mandatory drug testing in order to seek out and prevent drug abuse, while also maintaining a safe learning environment for the their peers.
Lane Health Center at Northeastern University can use multiple measures to prevent study drugs usage by students from various walks of life. For example, alternatives should be offered in order to not only send the message of “drugs are bad” but also “there are other things you can do.”
Since the June 1995 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in support of random school student athlete drug testing, more schools than ever before have begun either mandatory, reasonable suspicion or voluntary types of drug testing as they battle drug abuse by their students. These drug-testing programs can be mandatory, as with scholastic students’ athletes, voluntary as part of a student assistance program, or based on reasonable suspicion. A student drug-testing program must look for the right illegal drugs and banned substances. Most schools have student codes of conduct or athletic codes of conduct that state drugs are not to be used and most include tobacco as a banned substance. I believe that these types of regulations should be enforced and looked
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.
Those who support random drug testing argue that the growing trend of drug testing a small population of students in a school is effective at attacking the drug abuse problem, because fewer students will use when there is an obvious consequence (Drug Testing in School Activities 2). They believe if a drug problem is identified early enough, there is a better chance for rehabilitation. This is true, and with this approach, maybe one life can be saved (Legal Issues of
The legalization of drug use is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. That is what a friend said to me when I asked if legalizing drug use could have some benefits. We know that the issue of drugs seems to be a problem that most people reject, by the just fact that there are many negative things associated with them such as crime, addiction, and death. Society perception rejects the legalization of drug use, but like many things, ignorance plays an important role in creating prejudgments without concrete basics. Legalizing drug use is a controversial issue among the international society with high political costs for those who dare to suggest it, but there are some important aspects that make me suggest that drug use should be regulated by the government.
Mandatory drug testing is proven to help reduce the number of kids who do drugs (Journal of General