Student Drug Testing in Middle School

by mcmama | More from this Blogger

Citing the need to be "proactive rather than reactive" the principal of Hackettstown Middle School in Hackettstown NJ announced that voluntary random drug testing may begin next year. The program is not yet approved by the school board, and would be an extension of a program already in place in the district high school, with some modifications.

Currently, high school students who wish to play sports must be entered in a pool for random drug testing. Middle school students would not be entered in the pool without both student and parental consent. The district has received $90,000 from a federal grant to make the drug testing possible.

The idea behind the program is to deter students from using drugs. National studies have shown that teens first use drugs and alcohol when they are 11 years old. Hackettstown has invited students from nearby Pequannock to speak to Hackettstown students about the drug testing program currently in Pequannock schools. Two years ago, a Pequannock High School student overdosed on drugs and nearly died.

Nationally, voluntary student drug testing (VRSDT) seems to be more prevalent. Just last week, Williamsburg-James City Public schools in Virginia is also implementing a voluntary program for students in grades 6-12. The school board has also instructed the superintendent to study mandatory testing programs for the future.

Southwest Allen County Schools in Fort Wayne, Indiana, have also taken a pro active approach to the problem of student drug use in their community. Research found that student drug use in their community was higher than the national average. As a result, they not only have undertaken testing, but have formed a coalition of teachers, parents, administrators, community and business leaders, and students to reduce alcohol and drug use among students. No Alcohol No Drugs (NAND) has the objective of bringing drug and alcohol abuse among students in the community to a halt by 2010. The organization promotes peer leadership, healthy activities for teens, and support of law enforcement. The laudable thing about them is that they involve the whole community in the solution, not just parents or law enforcement.

The NAND coalition may well serve as a model for solutions in other communities. Take a look at what they have to offer here: www.nand.info

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I am a mother of two sons, and a former NYC substitute teacher.

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