Question

Should high school athletes have to submit to random drug testing? What about students who participate in academic decathalons or cheerleading? There have been increased efforts to have all high school students complete drug testing, regardless of whether or not they play a sport. Do you think all high school students should be tested for illegal drug use? In addition do you think random drug testing will decrease illicit drug use in high school students? Why or why not? Be sure to support your position with information from your textbook, the article below, and other scholarly sources.

https://post.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-4295785-dt-content-rid-32063720_1/courses/PSY307.301086045304/Random_Drug_Testing.pdf

Answer 1

Drug testing is routinely carried out for substance abuse screening and for treatment in military, sports and criminal justice settings. The US department of Education’s office of safe and Drug-free (OSDFS) has made grants to fund programs that support mandatory student drug testing (MRSDT) in schools. According to this program, both parents and students have to sign consent forms agreeing to the student’s random drug-testing program, however, this applies to only individuals who participate in athletics and other school sponsored related activities (Goldberg et al., 2003; James-Burdumy et al., 2012).

Drug testing for athletes in school: In a study conducted by Goldberg et al., 2003, they assed 2 high schools, one who followed the random drug testing program and the other school who does not follow this program for athletes. Both athletes and non-athletes from both schools completed a questionnaire about illicit drug use. The results showed that illicit drug use for athletic enhancement was lower for drug tested athletes at follow up. . However, use of drug risk factors like norms of use, belief in lower risk of harm from drugs and poorer attitudes towards the school, were higher among the athletes in the drug testing school than among athletes in the other school.

Advocates contend that school-based drug testing reduces student substance use by giving students with reasons to avoid substance use, and if the test turns out to be positive, the students can be identified and given treatment immediately. However, there is a huge debate about this, it is violating individual rights from a human rights perspective and it is not an effective prevention method (DuPont et al., 2013). It also violates ethics by violating children’s rights and the trust between schools and students gets hampered. The random drug test can also have other consequences as students who take certain medication for health reasons will have positive results on the test which may potentially lead to suspension of the student. Fear of being caught may lead to an increase in high school dropout rates.

The major limitation to this approach is that they should consider prescription drugs also and the information should be collected about the reason for its use during testing. Drug testing only helps to identify the individuals who consuming drugs are. However, for an effective approach, positive test results should be followed up with regular counseling and other psychosocial services instead of imposing punishments. That way, students will get the advice and counseling required which will lead to higher success rates.

In conclusion, there need to be several evidence based studies conducted in order to measure the effectiveness of such methods and create treatment/prevention programs that will have a higher success rate. According to many articles, the current random drug testing program for students have not been effective and more than positive have negative consequences.