Should public schools randomly test for drug use

[CaptinCrunch]

US TX: Yet Another Test For Students
by Laurie Fox, The Dallas Morning News, (04 Aug 2005) Dallas Morning News Texas

Many N. Texas Districts Check For Illegal Drugs - Or Soon Will

The learning curve for parents during back-to-school season gets steeper every year. But this fall, knowing about the newest clothes, backpacks and shoes isn't enough.

Modern parenthood for those with students in extracurricular activities now includes an education about testing for recreational drugs and steroids.

The list of school districts that randomly test for drug use has grown significantly in the last several years. Almost two dozen North Texas districts have mandatory tests of student athletes and those in the band, drill team and other school-sponsored groups.

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will begin drug testing this school year.

That district and Frisco ISD, which has been testing since 2000, also will start testing for steroids. Grapevine-Colleyville's decision to test came after The Dallas Morning News reported in February that nine Colleyville Heritage High athletes, seven of them football players, admitted that they had used steroids during the previous school year.

Some districts that haven't made the leap to random testing are ramping up their drug education efforts.

Plano ISD will begin using a new drug education program for students. In Southlake Carroll, parents of all students in extracurricular activities must attend mandatory substance abuse training classes before their kids can participate.

Some experts say they don't have enough data to show that random school district testing is preventing drug use.

But the nation's drug czar, John Waters, who directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy, has called student drug testing an "effective, safe and powerful tool against the threat of drugs in our schools and communities."

For parents wanting to learn more about drug testing, here's a primer:

What gives districts the right to test?

In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court broadened the authority of public schools to test students for illegal drugs. The court ruled to allow random drug tests for all middle and high school students participating in competitive extracurricular activities. The ruling greatly expanded the scope of school drug testing, which previously had been allowed only for student athletes.

How much does testing cost school districts?

The prices vary widely in districts based on how many students they test, how often they are tested and what kinds of drugs they test for. Local school districts can spend from $4,000 to $150,000. Some, like Eagle Mountain-Saginaw's program, are funded federally.

How do districts determine who is tested?

This also varies. Some districts test athletes only. Others test those in all extracurricular activities. Still others test all students in extracurricular activities in grades nine to 12. Some include grades seven and eight as well.

Most districts contract with a laboratory that tests the drug samples.

How often do districts test?

Most districts test everyone at the start of the school year and then randomly throughout the year. Some randomly test about 10 percent of students monthly, others once every six weeks to two months. How often the districts test depends somewhat on how much money it can afford to spend on testing. When periodic testing is done, most districts rely on their drug testing company to use a computerized system to randomly choose students by ID numbers to test.

What are the punishments for a failed test?

Punishments vary by school district. Some suspend an athlete or student in an extracurricular activity for a period of time and recommend or require drug counseling. Those students who test positive once are often automatically retested when the random testing periods are held. After a second positive test, students can be removed from the activity or be allowed only to practice but not compete. If there is a third positive test, students are disqualified from participating.

What are parents' recourses if their child tests positive?

Parents can ask for a retest or can take the sample that was tested to another lab. Parents can also appeal through some districts' grievance processes.

How does the testing process work?

Many districts use urine specimens for testing. But some are now using hair, oral fluids and sweat because some consider them easier to collect and more resistant to cheating. Students are usually pulled from class or are summoned to the office, sometimes during the period during which they are in the class for the extracurricular activity.

Depending on the student, male or female monitors will accompany the student to the restroom to collect the sample. A student may initial the cup or, for confidentiality, an ID number may be used. Many schools send the sample to a lab. If a sample tests positive, a confirmation test is usually done. Parents may be called to check if a student is taking a prescription drug that could affect the results.

How do you know that a school drug-testing program is effective?

National experts who've studied drug testing say it can take a few years to gauge whether a testing program is successful.

"There is some evidence that it works, but it doesn't change risk factors," said Linn Goldberg, a professor of medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore., who has developed his own drug education program and is studying drug testing across the country.

"There's no question that drug education works," Dr. Goldberg said. "If you can choose one or the other, I'd do the cheap, proven way. It's best to provide both."

For some school districts, the results are more anecdotal.

"You hear things in the hallway like, 'I was going to go out on Friday night, but I just knew we would get tested today, so I stayed home,' " said Kristen Escovedo, communications director in Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, which began drug testing last fall. "Things like that help us know that it is working."

Frisco athletic director David Kuykendall said he believes that drug testing makes a difference.

"We're trying to arm our kids with one more tool to say 'No,' " he said. "There are a large number of kids who might succumb to peer pressure. This gives them a reason to turn it down.

"We're in it to do more than teach them how to shoot a basketball."

Resources The Office of National Drug Control Policy has information about random drug testing of students at http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov.

Student drug testing grant applications are due Aug. 16, and grants will be awarded Sept. 29. Schools interested in applying for a federal grant, can visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/drugtesting/index.html. In its first two years, this initiative doled out $2 million to 79 middle and high school administrators for drug testing programs.

The Dallas Morning News' investigation into steroid use at North Texas high schools and a database of local school districts that conduct drug testing are at http://www.dallasnews.com/specialreports. Click on "The Secret Edge."

[george_r_1961]

Sounds like a good policy. If it prevents even a few students from fooling around with drugs its worth it.

[bevgo]

As long as it is not turned over to the police I think it should be done. Drug education and recovery programs should be mandatory for those that test positive a third time. Kids need to know that they cannot just do anything without some kind of consequences but I would hate to see a kid jailed because of a high school drug test.

[george_r_1961]

As long as it is not turned over to the police I think it should be done. Drug education and recovery programs should be mandatory for those that test positive a third time. Kids need to know that they cannot just do anything without some kind of consequences but I would hate to see a kid jailed because of a high school drug test.

Just having drugs in your system is not normally a crime although many states, including Virginia, now test for drugs, namely cocaine and opiates, if while operating a motor vehicle a police officer believes you are under the influence. THEN you can be charged with a crime. Bev you made a good point. There must be consequences for drug use.

[azsnowman]

Yes, yes and YES!!! I would LOVE to see schools have a MANDATORY testing program, then MAYBE I wouldn't have to spend SOOO much time at the school with the PD and our drug detection dog Sweetz

Dennis

[stormie_skies]

Ack.......

Perhaps they could place smoke detectors in students cars, too. Or set up video cameras in their rooms, reality tv style. How about implanting little GPS tracking devices, so we know where they are at all times....that way they can't go places their parents and teachers don't know about, and might never have the opportunity to even buy drugs, let alone do them!


So, how much invasion of privacy are people in this country willing to take before they realize that they will never, ever, EVER stop people who want to get high from doing so???


I remember having this debate when I was in high school. Its a shame to see it becoming commonplace. I guess it was only a logical progression from drug-sniffing dogs in the halls and parking lot, tho....


George: from a strictly philosophical standpoint, WHY must there be imposed consequences for drug use?

[azsnowman]

Ack.......

Perhaps they could place smoke detectors in students cars, too. Or set up video cameras in their rooms, reality tv style. How about implanting little GPS tracking devices, so we know where they are at all times....that way they can't go places their parents and teachers don't know about, and might never have the opportunity to even buy drugs, let alone do them!


So, how much invasion of privacy are people in this country willing to take before they realize that they will never, ever, EVER stop people who want to get high from doing so???


I remember having this debate when I was in high school. Its a shame to see it becoming commonplace. I guess it was only a logical progression from drug-sniffing dogs in the halls and parking lot, tho....


George: from a strictly philosophical standpoint, WHY must there be imposed consequences for drug use?

Come do a "ride along" with me, you'll see JUST how BAD the problem IS. I am dispatched at LEAST 3 times per DAY (not this year however, I'm in CI now ), some days MORE and the SAD part is, it's the ELEMENTARY age kids that are dabbling in drugs, I mean for Christs Sake, 10-12 year olds smokin' WEED

Dennis

[Lindaloo]

I think random drug testing is a great thing. If my child were on drugs do you think she/he would tell me? No.

[Lindaloo]

Ack.......

Perhaps they could place smoke detectors in students cars, too. Or set up video cameras in their rooms, reality tv style. How about implanting little GPS tracking devices, so we know where they are at all times....that way they can't go places their parents and teachers don't know about, and might never have the opportunity to even buy drugs, let alone do them!


So, how much invasion of privacy are people in this country willing to take before they realize that they will never, ever, EVER stop people who want to get high from doing so???


I remember having this debate when I was in high school. Its a shame to see it becoming commonplace. I guess it was only a logical progression from drug-sniffing dogs in the halls and parking lot, tho....


George: from a strictly philosophical standpoint, WHY must there be imposed consequences for drug use?

If they had done even remotely SOME of this that you do not like maybe those kids at Columbine High School would be here today.

[stormie_skies]

Come do a "ride along" with me, you'll see JUST how BAD the problem IS. I am dispatched at LEAST 3 times per DAY (not this year however, I'm in CI now ), some days MORE and the SAD part is, it's the ELEMENTARY age kids that are dabbling in drugs, I mean for Christs Sake, 10-12 year olds smokin' WEED

Dennis

Don't you think maybe the fact that it's so bad shows that what we are doing isnt working?

Just a thought...

Besides, there are ways to avoid getting a positive on a drug test, if you have some idea that you will be taking one. And when it comes to extra-curricular activities.....I doubt the coach will be thrilled about the idea of losing his starting quarterback because the kid smoked some weed. I wonder if some coaches will warn their players, or help them get out of it if necessary...

[GalvestonDuck]

Come do a "ride along" with me, you'll see JUST how BAD the problem IS. I am dispatched at LEAST 3 times per DAY (not this year however, I'm in CI now ), some days MORE and the SAD part is, it's the ELEMENTARY age kids that are dabbling in drugs, I mean for Christs Sake, 10-12 year olds smokin' WEED

Dennis

Don't you think maybe the fact that it's so bad shows that what we are doing isnt working?

Just a thought...

Besides, there are ways to avoid getting a positive on a drug test, if you have some idea that you will be taking one. And when it comes to extra-curricular activities.....I doubt the coach will be thrilled about the idea of losing his starting quarterback because the kid smoked some weed. I wonder if some coaches will warn their players, or help them get out of it if necessary...

If the testing is done correctly under controlled conditions, it's pretty hard to get out of it.

[feederband]

I Think it should be mandatory...That alone would be a deterrent for some..I have 3 kids I no dam well they would not tell me if they were using drugs I know this because I didn't tell my parents... Don't use them now ,no room with all the prescription drugs I take...Just the mere fact if you knew if they were using them you can react and try to change things ..All of my so called High School Buddy's that played around with drugs have been though the jail system can't get jobs .Addicted to the stuff or either dead...Can't stop to think if someone would of beat them over their heads early in life they would have had better lives but no one knew or wanted to believe their kid had a drug problem... No offence. I'm tired of all the taking away of rights people keep complaining about ...If it is to the better good of all ,then take it away...Kids don't have a right to take illegal drugs so test them and make sure they are not....IMO

[stormie_skies]

If they had done even remotely SOME of this that you do not like maybe those kids at Columbine High School would be here today.

Yanno, I completely understand where you are coming from here, and I wish I felt comfortable writing off what happened at Columbine as a product of simple drug use. But my understanding of the two boys that did it - both from what Ive read and seen in the media and what people who went to school with them said - is that they were a disaster waiting to happen, drugs or no drugs. Both boys were incredibly unstable and likely bi-polar. Only one was recieving any sort of treatment as far as I know, and the treatment he recieved was an SSRI anti-depressant, a cousin of Paxil, which now doctors believe can actually aggrevate symptoms of mania and depression, especially in teens and especially when the medicine is not taken as described (a lot of kids skip their meds from time to time). Add to that constant nastiness from the majority of other kids in their school and the fact that most of their one time friends had graduated and some had moved away, and you have a really dangerous mix. The only thing I think could have stopped Columbine from happening would have been if the boy's parents had stepped in more aggressively - but sometimes parents and kids can seem a world apart, even under the same roof.

The whole thing was a real tragedy, and absolutely devestated the whole area and everyone involved - but I don't see how drugs can be blamed for it.



Miss Duckie - what do you consider correctly done testing? I know some tests can be more easily fooled than others ... but I would guess that most school districts cannot afford a very elaborate test. Then again, I haven't known anyone who had anything to worry about on a drug test for a few years now ....have they become significantly more accurate?

[GalvestonDuck]

It's not so much the test itself as it is the conditions of the test that are controlled.

A coloring agent is placed in the toilet to prevent the subject from adding water from the bowl to dilute the urine (this can be done with food coloring, colored toilet cleaner, or powdered drink mix) . Tamper-evident tape is placed over faucet handles so they can't add anything from the sink. A temperature strip is pressed against the jar shortly after the sample is collected to determine if the sample is at body temperature (to prevent sneaking in a clean sample). Of course, there's always the no-fail method of simply watching the subject collect the sample. But in today's world, with teachers doing things to students, that would never work. And as for "fooling" a test, I've never seen it happen. We had patients claim left and right, up and down that they were clean but the test told us otherwise.

[chadtm80]

Pigs must be flying today because I agree with Stormie.. No I do not think the schools should do mandatory drug tests.. If you as a parent want to test your kid, then do so.. I know if I suspect my son of doing drugs I MYSELF will handle it, and not look to the schools to do so.

[feederband]

Pigs must be flying today because I agree with Stormie..

lol

But kids are cleaver....very cleaver... Now later in life I have been able to tell my parents that I did experiment with some drugs... They said never once thought that I was doing any drugs even though I had some pretty shaddy freinds....

I just think most parents would actually do nothing...They don't want to know that their kids might have a problem...And by the time they decide they want to take their own actions it might be to late...

[TexasStooge]

It's a good idea.

[jax]

yes

[stormie_skies]

It's not so much the test itself as it is the conditions of the test that are controlled.

A coloring agent is placed in the toilet to prevent the subject from adding water from the bowl to dilute the urine (this can be done with food coloring, colored toilet cleaner, or powdered drink mix) . Tamper-evident tape is placed over faucet handles so they can't add anything from the sink. A temperature strip is pressed against the jar shortly after the sample is collected to determine if the sample is at body temperature (to prevent sneaking in a clean sample). Of course, there's always the no-fail method of simply watching the subject collect the sample. But in today's world, with teachers doing things to students, that would never work. And as for "fooling" a test, I've never seen it happen. We had patients claim left and right, up and down that they were clean but the test told us otherwise.

What about commercially available "system detox" products?

[stormie_skies]

Pigs must be flying today because I agree with Stormie.. No I do not think the schools should do mandatory drug tests.. If you as a parent want to test your kid, then do so.. I know if I suspect my son of doing drugs I MYSELF will handle it, and not look to the schools to do so.

Hey now.....its not THAT bad, is it?