| The sustained campaign for a drug free | | | | because they do not comprehend the extent of |
| America is taking a new turn these days. | | | | the problem that we are trying to solve. At |
| After the invasion of drug testing into the | | | | least 50% of 12th graders are found to have |
| workplace, now it is time for testing to | | | | used drugs once in their life and 10% admit |
| expand into schools. Student drug testing is | | | | to using Marijuana on a monthly basis. |
| expected to reduce the tendency of teenagers | | | | |
| to start abusing drugs and aims at nipping | | | | For a school to start off on implementing a |
| the problem at the bud with an emphasis on | | | | student drug testing program, first it needs |
| prevention. | | | | to analyze the requirement it. It needs to |
| | | | figure out the level of drug abuse in the |
| First of all, student drug testing aims at | | | | community as a whole and within the students |
| preventing adolescents from being initiated | | | | of that school. Small surveys could be |
| into drug abuse. The possibility of being | | | | conducted among the students and their |
| detected in a student drug testing campaign | | | | parents to judge the level of need for such a |
| is expected to be deterrent strong enough to | | | | program. If the need for drug testing is |
| convince them to abstain from succumbing to | | | | clear, then the school needs to find funding |
| peer pressure and using drugs. Student drug | | | | for the project. A lot of schools are already |
| testing will also identify drug abusers in | | | | availing themselves of funding from the |
| their adolescence and let their counselors | | | | Department of Education for student drug |
| and parents intervene very early to help the | | | | testing as a part of the Safe and Drug Free |
| student recover from the habit before it is | | | | Schools Program. |
| too late. The students who have already | | | | |
| developed a dependence on drugs could be | | | | A student drug testing program alone cannot |
| easily detected and referred for treatment or | | | | play the whole game. Detection of impaired |
| rehabilitation programs. | | | | individuals should go hand in hand with |
| | | | intervention and treatment programs. An |
| It would be very helpful if a person is found | | | | individual detected to be abusing drugs |
| and helped during the initial stages of his | | | | through a student drug testing program should |
| addiction since the possibility of his | | | | undergo intervention by his parents, teachers |
| recovery decreases with his dependency on the | | | | and counselors enabling him to return to a |
| drug. Most people start experimenting with | | | | normal socially productive life. Without this |
| drugs when they are in school. Although this | | | | we stand to lose all benefits of the student |
| is considered natural and safe as long as | | | | drug testing programs. |
| they don't slip into an addiction, these | | | | |
| innocent experiments have the inclination to | | | | Once a program for student drug testing has |
| transform into accidents, violent incidents | | | | been formulated and implemented, it will act |
| or overdose. Student drug testing aims to | | | | as a deterrent against drug abuse for |
| discourage experimentation among the students | | | | youngsters in the country. When we separate |
| to reduce the risk. | | | | the young and impressionable from initiation |
| | | | into drug abuse, what we achieve is a new |
| It is common to neglect the amount of drug | | | | generation that is clean from the effects of |
| abuse happening among students by ignoring | | | | drugs. There has never been a better |
| the facts. Most people don't understand the | | | | investment in the future. |
| impact that student drug testing could make | | | | |