Random Drug Testing Argument Essay

Substance abuse is a growing issue throughout schools and communities, with an increasing fear of abuse of drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines. Many schools are trying to solve the issue and prevent these harmful substances from being abused by their students. One route that many schools are taking is by performing random drug tests on their students in hopes that they will find those who are using illicit substances. Administrators are also hoping that other students will be deterred from drug use due to the harsh consequences that come with a positive test, often suspension and loss of driving privileges. This is a very controversial topic as some believe this will help to reduce drug use among young people throughout communities, while others believe it is an invasion of privacy and is overall a very ineffective method of reducing drug use.
The author argues that since tests are mostly performed on students in extracurricular activities, the tests represent a population of kids who are less likely to participate in drug related activities, according to the article. The article also states that many lawsuits have been filed to state courts over the legality of random drug tests in schools, with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court striking down the drug testing. Another topic of concern is that the drug tests can be inaccurate. Most tests analyze urine samples, and these tests can often produce positive results for drugs that the student did not necessarily consume, ruining a student’s reputation. Finally, the authors explain that students may resort to using less traceable and more harmful drugs in order to not receive a positive result from a random drug