How Much is Too Much When Fighting Teen Drug Abuse?
As mentioned before, debate is hot and heavy over a school’s random use of drug testing. It is proving difficult for parents to weigh the benefits that may accrue from random drug testing against the violation of privacy and civil rights that it represents. Some schools have intensified their well intended intrusions by indirectly affecting how a student spends their week-ends by randomly testing on a Monday morning.
The New York Times printed an number of responses from parents to the question “Is This The Answer to Drug Use?”
Parents Respond to Random Drug Testing
Though parents seem to lean more towards allowing the testing to go on, most do so very reluctantly , torn between ending the plaque of teenage drug abuse and protecting this countrys’ citizens basic rights to privacy.
“Let me start by saying that I personally have a deep respect for the privacy rights afforded to us in the U.S. Constitution but, at the same time I am a strong proponent for random drug testing.”
and
“I’m responding to the question about student random drug testing. Let me start by saying that I personally have a deep respect for the privacy rights afforded to us in the U.S. Constitution but, at the same time I am a strong proponent for random drug testing.”
Privacy Rights vrs Drug Intervention
Some parents and experts are dead set against it.
“…drug testing typically requires the inappropriate release of confidential medical information to administrators, as some drugs that are legitimately prescribed for students may produce false positive results in urine drug screening.”
and
“Random drug testing is going to backlash and prove to do more damage than good. What kind of a message is this to give to our children? We have rapidly become a country of control. How embarrassing for these teens to be pulled out of class to go pee in a cup. They go to school to learn, not to be accused! We adults should be ashamed of ourselves for allowing this to happen.”
and
Relevant Tags:drug intervention, privacy rights, random drug testing, teenage drug abuse, urine drug screening, u s constitution, violation of privacy“My opinion is that it’s an abomination… It was unbelievable to me that this would be implemented. It is straight out of Orwell.”
Teen Age Drug Abuse