Random Drug Testing a Big Mistake
Drug testing has been around the world of sports ever since the steroid era of baseball in the early 2000’s. The drug tests have grown more complex and can now detect more banned substances than ever before. With all this new drug testing technology, the Black River Falls High School Student Senate has discussed the idea of a drug testing policy for those who participate in the school’s clubs and sporting teams.
If a drug testing policy were to be implemented in our school, I think that we could be taking a step in the wrong direction. Most clubs in the high school are not that big as it is. If a drug testing policy were put into effect, it could diminish the number of kids who want to join the club. Most kids who this would effect would be the kids who are not in the clubs and want to join them in a pursuit to become a better individual. This drug testing could scare those kids who want to better themselves from joining because they do not want to get in trouble right away and get humiliated by the drug test results.
Another downfall of drug testing is the fact that most drug tests can be fooled by the masking of substances. Masking substances is when you take other substances that can hide the presence of the banned substances that the tests are trying to detect. Most of the information about masking substances can be found on the internet. There are also other simple ways to pass drug tests like flushing, diluting, substituting, and adulterating. Every one of these ways to pass a drug test lay out plans and most students who take drugs would be able to find this information and put it into use.
I’m not saying that I am a supporter of drugs or the use of banned substances and I think that those who do them should not be allowed to participate in the clubs or the sports we offer here at BRFHS. The use of drugs in our school is a big problem and I know that it is a big issue in today’s society. I think that there are other ways to combat the drug problem in our school and our community. There are way too many flaws in drug testing and ways to get around them. It could be a waste of money for our school district in our already tight budget.
The drug tests that the general public (like you and I) hear about are some of the most high tech tests that can be administered and I’m guessing it costs a lot to analyze them. Our small school district of Black River Falls is already in a budget crunch and adding in the appropriate drug tests would cost us a pretty penny. As I see it, there are way more flaws and negatives to this drug testing policy than there are positives.
Bronson Stein • Apr 16, 2010 at 8:57 am
To clarify, we did not propose RANDOM DRUG TESTING. Random Drug Testing is where a computer spits out a random list of people who will then be tested. what we proposed was reasonable suspicion testing, which means that if there is clear suspicion of abuse, and they fail the screening done by a trained panel, they will then be tested. I think it is important to get the information out on this subject correct. And about the point of people not wanting to get involved because they may be “scared” of getting tested. This proposal has nothing to do with activities. Before we even brought this up there was a clear zero-tolerance for drugs in clubs. All we are doing is providing the school with a way to inforce that already established rule. Someone who isn’t in a club has the exact same chance to be tested as someone who is. And as for cheating the test, it is a mouth swab, administered right there in person, which means the chance that someone could alter the results is little to none. I enjoyed this article, but i felt the need to shine some light on things that needed to be corrected.
Brittany Krueger • Apr 13, 2010 at 9:19 am
Not to start anything but Jamie, it doesn’t matter. It’s still illegal, you’ve got to face the fact, if you’re going on in schooling, and even if you’re not having a criminal record isn’t going to help you in finding a job, its better to not get involved in any illegal activities, simple as that.
Jamie Mattson • Mar 9, 2010 at 11:47 am
I disagree with the drug testing because what people do off campus should not be school realated.
Cole Sanders • Mar 5, 2010 at 11:02 am
I agree completly with Jordan’s thoughts, could’nt say it better myself.