drug testing in schools

[nilus2k]

Seems simple to me. Want to participate in extracurricular activities? Then don't do drugs. To bad for all those good kids who just toked up once or twice in the summer.

 

[fenrizz]

My school has random drugs tests occasionally but nothing's come of it.

The only thing to remember is that drugs stay in the body for something like 2 months or more.

They don't.
Ironically, cannabis stays the longest.
Clever drug users will quickly learn that harder stuff leaves the system much, much faster.

That is the biggest issue I have with drug testing, it tends to affect cannabis users the most.
Now, I'm not gonna get into a discussion of the legality of marijuana.
But the fact is that marijuana is one of the least harmful drugs out there, and the one that stays the longest in your system (3-8 weeks, varies).

Some people I know actually moved on from marijuana because of drug tests, since speed/coke/heroin does not stay in your system for long. A few days, tops.

I'd rather have my kid smoke marijuana from time to time, than have him do harder drugs.

If doing drugs is against the law (which admittedly it's not in all countries), then by "had a joint or 2" you mean "committing a crime". Again, only the guilty need fear this change.

I'm sorry, but I can't resist taking this flamebait.
Only the guilty need fear, eh?
Well, the same argument can be applied to phone taps, internet surveilance and tracking you 24/7.

No need to fear Big Brother, unless you're guilty, right?

Yeah, I know these examples are a little extreme. But I wanted to make a point.

 

[AlexTheBucket2112]

I can't say the policy is bad but really all it does is confirm obvious Drug users. Theres always that "guy" at school who you know is high 24/7 and no one can catch him in the act. This would just say "ok now we know you use drugs"

But I don't use drugs so this would not bother me.

 

[ssgt splatter]

Hey, I'm not in high school anymore so I don't care.

 

[Standby]

This is such a moronic idea and shame on any of you that agreed with it.

Theres such a massive amount of fear when regarding drugs, the most common drug they might discover children using is weed, and judging by quite a few of these replies none of these people have even seen it.
The only thing this policy is going to do i exclude otherwise good students just because they had a joint or 2, which is only going to make matters worse for the community and students themselves.

If doing drugs is against the law (which admittedly it's not in all countries), then by "had a joint or 2" you mean "committing a crime". Again, only the guilty need fear this change.

But the punishment doesn't fit the 'crime', this student who otherwise may have cured cancer one day would be completely isolated by his school, and maybe even expelled or convicted if the school's strict enough, which in turn would more than likely lead to heavier drug use, it would solve nothing.

 

[sneak_copter]

Well, if you're only toking up "once or twice during the summer," you really shouldn't be worried about failing a drug test.

Seems kind of extreme for the school to do this for all extracuricular activities.

Just don't test positive for super diabetes. [http://roosterteeth.com/archive/?id=736]

Gotta love Rooster Teeth.

This is actually a good scheme. I just wouldn't make it mandatory. If somebody touches drugs once, there is no reason to make there whole education suffer because of it.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

My school has random drugs tests occasionally but nothing's come of it.

The only thing to remember is that drugs stay in the body for something like 2 months or more.

They don't.
Ironically, cannabis stays the longest.
Clever drug users will quickly learn that harder stuff leaves the system much, much faster.

That is the biggest issue I have with drug testing, it tends to affect cannabis users the most.
Now, I'm not gonna get into a discussion of the legality of marijuana.
But the fact is that marijuana is one of the least harmful drugs out there, and the one that stays the longest in your system (3-8 weeks, varies).

Some people I know actually moved on from marijuana because of drug tests, since speed/coke/heroin does not stay in your system for long. A few days, tops.

I'd rather have my kid smoke marijuana from time to time, than have him do harder drugs.

Thank you very much, that was a very informative post, and validates my point even more.

Legalize it I say. It's a win win situation.

 

[Flap Jack452]

My school is starting drug testing this coming school year.

Since I don't do drugs I have nothing to worry about, and pissing into a cup won't bother me much.

 

[Marcus Attell]

Shoot, in an age where you have Metal Detectors at the entrance to schools, School nurses who would willingly prescribe Ridillin to children, and Strip searching honor students for "Ibuprofen", I think that Drug testing in schools is a little, um, Lame(?) as far as school policies go.

Not that I am against it, (It would have been a proud moment to actually pass a test XD) but that seems to be the one thing (other than the aforementioned Metal detectors) that is actually looking out for the well-being of the students.

 

[Amnestic]

This is such a moronic idea and shame on any of you that agreed with it.

Theres such a massive amount of fear when regarding drugs, the most common drug they might discover children using is weed, and judging by quite a few of these replies none of these people have even seen it.
The only thing this policy is going to do i exclude otherwise good students just because they had a joint or 2, which is only going to make matters worse for the community and students themselves.

If doing drugs is against the law (which admittedly it's not in all countries), then by "had a joint or 2" you mean "committing a crime". Again, only the guilty need fear this change.

But the punishment doesn't fit the 'crime', this student who otherwise may have cured cancer one day would be completely isolated by his school, and maybe even expelled or convicted if the school's strict enough, which in turn would more than likely lead to heavier drug use, it would solve nothing.

That answer works both ways:- if he's left alone to develop his drug habit he could become a serial killer and puppy torturer.

 

[Xojins]

I don't see anything wrong with it. You want to get high, do it outside of school and don't do a bunch of extracurricular activities. I mean, I'm sure using weed once or twice wouldn't affect things too much, but the constant potheads have chosen their path, and they need to deal with the consequences.

So basically you're saying that teens who smoke weed with any regularity shouldn't be allowed to participate in school activities? Not everyone who smokes goes to school/school activities while high, so why should they be excluded?

 

[Amnestic]

I don't see anything wrong with it. You want to get high, do it outside of school and don't do a bunch of extracurricular activities. I mean, I'm sure using weed once or twice wouldn't affect things too much, but the constant potheads have chosen their path, and they need to deal with the consequences.

So basically you're saying that teens who smoke weed with any regularity shouldn't be allowed to participate in school activities? Not everyone who smokes goes to school/school activities while high, so why should they be excluded?

Because they're breaking the law/school rules?

 

[Motti]

I'm going to be naive here and point out that the people in high school shouldn't be doing drugs anyway (or anybody for that matter). Also, do you all also seriously think that the people who do extracarricular activities will be the kind of people to smoke a joint? By extracarricular I'm assuming you mean debating, drama etc.

 

[LopezMeister]

I've never heard of people being drug tested for extra curricular activities/parking permits however friends of mine have been kicked out of my college after being brought in for an interview (or performance assessment depending on what you want to call it) for attendance reasons or because they've had tutors reporting them for potential drug use.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I don't see anything wrong with it. You want to get high, do it outside of school and don't do a bunch of extracurricular activities. I mean, I'm sure using weed once or twice wouldn't affect things too much, but the constant potheads have chosen their path, and they need to deal with the consequences.

So basically you're saying that teens who smoke weed with any regularity shouldn't be allowed to participate in school activities? Not everyone who smokes goes to school/school activities while high, so why should they be excluded?

Because they're breaking the law/school rules?

So? It's a stupid law anyway. Fuckin' Alcohol is worse than weed.

 

[bodyklok]

At my high school, people were openly taking drugs in the toilets, it was common knowledge amongst most students, and once the teachers even found the remains of a fag there. Yet nothing was done.

So, to me at lest, drug testing in schools isn't a bad thing.

 

[Marcus Attell]

My old high school has recently decided to implement a drug testing policy for students wanting to participate in extracurricular activities and for the right to obtain a parking permit. i've not seen any other schools with this type of policy and would like to know if any of you are familiar with it and if it has been successful. i'm concerned that it will stop many people from participating in school and whether it will be used to kick otherwise good kids out of school for toking up once or twice during the summer. it is also worth noting that the parents of a student can request a drug test for their child and that kids can be tested if they are acting strangely, so it is affecting more than just student priviledges.

EDIT: one problem i see with this policy is the fact that this same school gave my prom date and i a beer mug and wine glass for our prom gifts. which we promptly took to a prom party and used the hell out of

Well remember, DRUGS BAD, ALCOHOL GOOD lol
Also, they probably don't want the STAR QUARTERBACK to start slacking in his performance, or throwing games (cause he buys from the rival school, and he owes his dealer some money so the dealer makes a deal) And for the parking permit, well, a car is a place of semi-privacy on school grounds, and even the "Top-Notch" Security Guards that patrol the parking lot will mess up occasionally, so they just want to make sure that you make it back to your home/crack house safely after school.

 

[fenrizz]

I'm going to be naive here and point out that the people in high school shouldn't be doing drugs anyway (or anybody for that matter). Do you all also seriously think that the people who do extracarricular activities will be the kind of people to smoke a joint? By extracarricular I'm assuming you mean debating, drama etc.

ehmmm... yes?
Lot's of young people try cannabis. That does not mean that they do not have a life outside of it.
Demonizing people who smoke cannabis occasionally does not make matters better.

Let's see.
John came to school one day, facing a new policy, mandatory drug testing for playing on the football team.
But oh noes, last week John shared a joint with some friends at a party.
John decides to drop the football team, despite being the captain. Because after all, that is better than getting caught and being expelled from school.

See my point?

 

[Amnestic]

I don't see anything wrong with it. You want to get high, do it outside of school and don't do a bunch of extracurricular activities. I mean, I'm sure using weed once or twice wouldn't affect things too much, but the constant potheads have chosen their path, and they need to deal with the consequences.

So basically you're saying that teens who smoke weed with any regularity shouldn't be allowed to participate in school activities? Not everyone who smokes goes to school/school activities while high, so why should they be excluded?

Because they're breaking the law/school rules?

So? It's a stupid law anyway. Fuckin' Alcohol is worse than weed.

I don't disagree. I fully endorse the full legalisation of all illicit drugs personally, as well as prostitution (though that's another argument entirely). However, as a citizen of your country you agree to obey certain laws. If you don't like them, you should probably find a different country, try to change them or accept that you're breaking a law and deal with the consequences.

Testing is totally illegal without probable cause, as the constitution prevents against such illegal searching, even in the own body.

It's pissing in a cup. If you refuse to do it, then that implies guilt and gives them probable cause. If you agree, you're giving your consent.