| School districts, much like employers, have | | | | athletes. In nearly every school district, |
| begun to implement drug-testing policies. | | | | students who wish to compete in school sports |
| Many school officials cite statistics | | | | must sign a release for a drug screening. |
| relating to school performance and safety | | | | This has become common in schools because of |
| among drug users. Whether the drug testing | | | | statistics showing that male high school |
| acts as a method of screening students or as | | | | athletes have a greater risk of drug abuse. |
| a method of deterrence from drug use, the | | | | These facts, accompanied by the fear of |
| popularity of this practice has increased | | | | injury during competitions, have fueled the |
| significantly in many school | | | | debate and existence of drug testing among |
| systems.Supporters of high school drug | | | | athletes.Opponents of drug testing claim that |
| testing often cite governmental statistics. | | | | it is a violation of privacy to require |
| These numbers show a steadily growing number | | | | students to take drug tests. Privacy |
| of teenage drug users each year. Those in | | | | advocates suggest that with requests for |
| favor of mandatory drug testing suggest that | | | | mandatory drug screenings comes the potential |
| such measures may be effective in keeping | | | | for abuse. A few cases have existed in which |
| teenagers from using drugs. Fear of facing | | | | a student was randomly searched and found to |
| expulsion from school or punishment from | | | | be in possession of drug paraphernalia. In |
| their parents may be a good deterrent for | | | | these cases, the students were either |
| high school students.Although some officials | | | | suspended from school or sent to drug |
| would like to see a policy of mandatory | | | | rehabilitation centers; it is often the case |
| testing of every student, most drug | | | | that these students were productive in school |
| screenings require parental consent. Most | | | | and were not necessarily considered to be |
| schools require that there be probable cause | | | | problem students. Regardless of these |
| or reasonable suspicion before requesting a | | | | isolated cases, many school districts defend |
| drug test. If a teacher notices a student who | | | | the benefits of drug testing. Although formal |
| appears aloof or has red and glassy eyes, he | | | | statistics do not prove the theory, many |
| or she may request a drug test.More common | | | | educational experts believe that high school |
| than random or suspicion-based high school | | | | drug testing deters students from using or |
| drug testing is the testing of high school | | | | abusing illegal drugs. |