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| Nine reasons to say Yes! to student drug testing |
| 1. Too
many kids use drugs... After several years of decreases, national studies now indicate that drug use among teens is on the rise again... A survey of 75,000 US high school seniors found that more than two in five students reported using illegal drugs in the 2000-2001 school year. Source: The National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education |
| 2. Drug
use means drug sharing and drug dealing... Kids who use drugs often hang out with and get drugs from other kids who use drugs. Teens are more likely to get drugs from their peers...The government reports that about half of teens say that it's "easy" to get drugs, and 1 in 6 admit to having been approached in the past 30 days to buy drugs. Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University |
| 3.
Drugs at school mean violence and intimidation... The allure of money from drug dealing leads to drug pushing, weapons at school, turf wars; teens routinely identify violence at schools as one of their greatest fears... In a 1995 survey, students reporting easy access to drugs were more likely to know of or to have experienced violence at school. Students reporting the presence of drug dealers at school also were more likely to report incidents of physical attack, robbery and bullying. Source: 1995 School Crime Supplement to National Crime Victimization Survey. |
| 4. Drug use impairs
learning |
| 5. Drug Testing gives kids
a much-needed reason to say no... The truth of the matter is most kids don't want to use drugs. In many cases it's a matter of peer pressure, circumstances, and opportunity...drug testing impacts all three. According to a study of 2,072 children, nearly 50 percent of 8 to 11 years olds said alcohol, illicit drugs, and violence were big problems in their lives. The percent increases to 68 percent among 12 to 15 years olds. Source: Nickelodeon, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Children Now |
| 6. Drug testing takes
the guess work out of the test... When it comes to drugs the facts are clear. Many high school students have tried illegal drugs and a good many of them are still using...no school is completely insulated from the problem. Drug testing proves it by removing the subjectivity and replacing it with objectivity. One national survey predicted that 13 million US middle and high school students would use alcohol and other drugs in the 2001-2002 school year. Further it is estimated that by the time those same students reach the 12th grade, 70% will have smoked cigarettes, 81% will have drunk alcohol, nearly 50% will have used marijuana, and 24% will have used other illegal drugs. Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse of Columbia University. |
| 7. Drug testing saves money...
Drug abuse in ours schools is costing billions of dollars that could be - and should be - spent on education. Drug misuse and addiction adds 10% to the costs of elementary and secondary education each year. Schools spend at least $41 billion in costs related to class disruption and violence, tutoring, truancy, and teacher turnover, all of which are exacerbated by student drug use. Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse of Columbia University. |
| 8. Drug testing saves
lives... Drug testing tells the truth. A confirmed positive test result is undeniable...A drug user can finally submit to the treatment and rehabilitation so desparately needed in order to make the break from drug abuse. According to the federal government..."Marijuana use heightens the likelihood of unprotected sex, impairs a student's ability to learn, and impedes emotional and social development. Use of marijuana has been linked to problems of the cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems as well as infertility. Teens who smoke pot and drive are more likely to get into accidents than when they are not smoking." Source: Caron Foundation |
| 9. Drug testing works... Drug testing has proven to be one of the most effective deterrents to drug use in the workplace, in professional sports, in the US Military, in the nation's prison system, in countless treatment programs, and in many other organized drug abuse prevention programs. It only makes sense that schools that drug test will, over the course of time, experience the desired benefits of drug testing...less violence, a decrease in the cost of administering a school, improved learning, and a healthier, safer educational environment. Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |
| Major Source: published by
Ambassador Medical Services, Inc., Florida Drug Screening, Inc., NMS Management
Services, Inc., Varian Inc., and Western Pathology Consultants, Inc. Copyright
2004 All right reserved. For a copy of the full publication contact studentdrugtesting.info. Contact Us. |
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