Random Drug Tests and Searches

Are they really as efficient as possible?

By: Rachel Jacobs

We all know about the random drug tests that the athletes have to go through, but are they really that successful? I mean, there are around 900 students at Loudon High School and most of them could be breaking the law every day. The school system has no way to prove this if the student is not an athlete.

Would it not be better if the school provided drug tests for any of the students enrolled at the school? If the tests were provided for everyone, then the system would be more effective. As of now, all teenagers have to do to get out of these drug tests is stay off the sports teams. It is as though the school system is saying, “It is ok to be on drugs as long as you are not on a sports team.”

Also, is it alright to have illegal substances if they are not in your locker or car? In the real world it is not, but in our school, it must be. If it were not, students would be searched as well as the cars and lockers. How hard would it be to line the students up on a wall and have a drug dog walk past them? Instead, the only substances the dogs can find are the ones in the cars or lockers. It is too easy to get out of being caught with drugs.

Say one of the students has to use the restroom during one of these searches. Would you expect to hear, “Hey, man, I will hold it for you until you get back!” or would you expect, “That is not happening! What if they search us while you are in the bathroom?” I know I would rather hear the latter, but since the only people who are searched are the ones who need to use the bathroom, the first option is most likely the one that is going to be chosen. That is not good, and I do not like the idea that the people of the world's future think they can easily break and evade the laws.

We are not setting a good example if the only students who have to worry about getting caught are the athletes. We should all have to wonder if we will be caught doing or carrying illegal substances. It may make the laws have more effect on today's teenagers if the teens have more incentive not to break the laws.

If you agree with me, then contact the school about it. Nothing can be changed if there is no seen reason to change it. The school appreciates your support and constructive suggestions.