Pubdate: Wed, 27 Apr 2005
Source: Daily Mississippian (U of MS Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Daily Mississippian
Contact:  http://www.thedmonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1345
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DEBATING DRUG TESTING

Drug tests in schools could prove to be a worthy endeavor in teen's lives.
Nobody wants to be a junkie when they grow up.

New measures being placed in schools across the state and country may
assure that, for some students, that never happens.

Two more Mississippi schools this month alone implemented random drug
screenings for students involved in extracurricular activities. Rankin
County's school board voted and approved the measure April 14. While
some may bawlk at potential invasions of privacy on the children, the
measures are meant for good and should not be construed any other way.
Once teenagers make it to their early twenties, or even to the age of
18, they will likely face drug screenings at potential jobs. Not only
do kids not want to grow up to be junkies, businesses don't want to
hire them, either. More and more job applications are beginning
require drug tests. So, if students will face these tests in the
future, why not face them now? However, the implementation of the
plans contain some worrysome facets. In many schools, only students in
extracurricular activities are tested (i.e. athletics). If any groups
should be targeted, it should hardly be those who willingly spend more
time at school than they are required. Likely, a child involved in
football, basketball, band, newspaper or whatever activity, join the
group because they are passionate about whatever activity they are
being offered.

It is that passion that, many times, keeps young people away from
drugs. Random drug screenings of the entire school population is the
way to go. Failing a drug test in high school will make much more of
an impact on a teen's life than it would if their first failing score
from a drug test came from a job application.

They can still be molded in junior high and high schools. However, at
the heart of the matter remains the terrible truth that drug screens
are even necessary at such young ages. Parents who are involved,
interested and unwavering in their child's lives can do much more than
the threat of a drug test ever could.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin