Mandatory student drug testing in colleges is an unfair abuse of power and should not determine a students eligibility to enroll.
Drug testing is a process in which a part of one’s DNA, such as hair or urine, is taken and inspected to find any traces of drugs. However, finding traces of drugs in a student’s system does not mean that a student should lose their chances of enrolling in college. There are certain steps that schools can take to ensure safety on college campuses without harming a student’s opportunity to receive an education.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the primary purpose of drug testing is to prevent students from future illicit drug use, not to punish them. Despite this research, eight percent of students are still expelled from their schools after failing a drug test, according to the Center of Addiction. Using drug testing as a disciplinary tool is an unsafe abuse of power in the education system.
Drug testing fails to provide aid to students who participate in risky substance use, opting for swift expulsion rather than guiding students towards rehabilitation. It also hinders the trust between staff and students of a college campus. Instead of expelling those students, schools should provide students with counseling or other types of proper treatment.
It is not uncommon to find patterns among students using similar types of drugs. A study by the National Library of Medicine explains that about 37 percent of students have used an illicit drug, with marijuana being the most frequently used drug. However, there are many understandable reasons why authorities may find drugs in a student’s system.
Some students use drugs such as marijuana for medical reasons and others use illegal stimulants such as Adderall to stay up at night to finish schoolwork. Some students are peer-pressured into using drugs, while others are curious and want to experiment with them. Deciding to decline a student’s enrollment without first investigating reasons mentioned would be an unnecessary action to take. Colleges should only decline enrollment if the student is clearly addicted to using drugs or putting other students in harm, and something as severe as that cannot be determined with a simple drug test.
The Center of Addiction mentions how easy it is to pass the drug test by bringing in another person’s DNA, one that has no traces of drugs. Because of this, drug testing can be extremely inaccurate, which further proves why drug tests should not be used to determine enrollment.
The Center of Addiction also states how expensive drug tests can be. An academic study shows that drug testing can be a fairly ineffective method, whereas improving the environment of the school campus instead decreases drug use of students significantly. Rather than spending money on drug tests, school administrators should use that money to enhance the climate on campus. Examples include keeping campuses clean, providing safe common rooms in dormitories and other improvements that students may suggest.
When a college rejects a student’s enrollment because of a failed drug test, they hurt that student’s chances of higher education. They also ignore the bigger problem at hand, which is the risk of drug addiction. Colleges should provide students with proper treatment instead, and guide those students onto the right path.
It made sense when you mentioned that drug testing should guide students toward rehabilitation. My friend needs to get tested for drugs. I should advise him to turn to a clinic that assists companies with their drug and alcohol testing for their workplace.