Persuasive Essay On Drug Testing In Schools

Substance abuse is a major health issue that could lead to potential health problems later on in life due to continues use. According to the Risk Behavior Survey (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) “more than 25% of students nation wide have been offered, sold, or given illegal drugs on school property.” Adolescence who abuse substances are at risk of long- term impairment of cognitive ability and memory, lack of motivation and self –discipline, and have reduced school attendance. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2007) While some professional organizations may disagree with randomly drug testing students, some schools who have adopted student drug testing are hoping it will serve as a deterrent and give students a reason to resist peer pressure to take drugs, a reason to quit if they have started using drugs, and finally a way to get help for their drug problem if they can not quit.
Peer pressure can be a major influencing factor for adolescents to use drugs or alcohol. By school districts implementing a drug testing policy, it can create a school climate that allows students to have the courage to say no to using drugs. For students who are active in after school activities or sports it provides them with solid reasons not to start using drugs and keeps them involved in positive, drug free, social groups and
(The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 2011) Living in an environment that does not identify the risks, or is the common source of addictive substances, (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 2011) makes it difficult for youth to stop. Schools that implement drug testing use this as an opportunity to educate, and link these youth to appropriate interventions necessary and at the same time provide a supportive safe environment that could aide in the youth’s