About Drug Testing in High Schools

Drug testing in U.S. public schools has been a common practice since 1995, when the practice was approved by the U.S. Supreme Court. Originally the law approved the use of random drug screening for public school athletes, and this was later upheld in a 2001 Supreme Court decision, which allows for the random drug testing of public middle and high school students who are involved in a competitive school activity.

History

• Drug testing programs were first used in public schools to randomly test high school athletes. Similar to testing programs used with elite athletes, this testing sought to identify and disqualify participants who were consuming any illegal or performance-enhancing substances. The Supreme Court has repeatedly heard cases questioning whether these drug-testing programs violate the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which addresses the issue of unreasonable searches.

Methods of Testing

• Drug tests are conducted by testing a sample of urine, hair or oral fluid for a group of drugs. The most widely used kits test for a wide group of drugs at once, including marijuana, cocaine, opiates and amphetamines. There are individual kits available to test for less common substances including GHB and MDMA. Schools must purchase test kits with funds that are specifically designated for these purposes.

Legal Considerations

• One of the major debates about drug testing in public schools centers on whether the use of testing violates a student's rights to privacy. As a result, programs for drug testing must select students at random by using a system that does not target a specific individual, such as a coin toss or a lottery While federal guidelines allow for testing programs, schools wishing to develop a drug testing program must also consult state education guidelines, because individual states and districts have separate regulations that may permit or prohibit testing in public schools.

Outcomes of Testing Programs

• Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National School Nurses Association have called for more research on the efficacy of random drug testing in schools. Currently, studies have shown mixed results. The 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that student athletes who took part in random testing had rates of drug use similar to those of control groups. Most professionals agree that more extensive studies should be conducted to determine the overall cost and effectiveness of these programs.

Expert Insight

• The Student Drug-Testing Institute (SDTI) was established by the U.S. Department of Education in 2008. Researchers at the STDI have advocated against the development of "stand-alone" testing programs and instead propose the development of comprehensive drug education, screening and counseling programs in public schools. The SDTI conducts annual studies regarding student drug use, and they have consistently advocated for early intervention programs that earmark federal and state funds for education and prevention services, as opposed to disciplinary action or criminal prosecution. In addition, the NIH also advocates the use of ongoing screening in treatment and counseling programs, because testing helps to determine if a user has continued to consume substances or if he is successfully ceasing all use.