Student Drug Abuse & The Effectiveness of Random Drug Testing

Children Drug Addiction & Importance of Random Drug Testing for Children


In August of 2000, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that suspicionless (random) drug-testing ofstudents was unconstitutional under the Indiana Constitution. At the time of the ruling approximately65 high schools in Indiana had implemented student random drug-testing programs. All of those schools halted their random drug-testing programs after the decision. The Indiana Supreme Court set aside the appellate court’s decision in January of 2002 and reversed the appellate court during the summer of 2002.

In a previous study released in 2002, the researcher asked Indiana high school principals to compare drug and alcohol activity during the 1999-2000 school year when random drug-testing policies were in effect with the 2000-2001 school year when schools were not allowed to engage in random drug testing programs.

This study is presented as a follow-up to the 2002 study for the purposes of determining how many schools in Indiana re-implemented random drug-testing programs after suspending those programs in the late summer of 2000 and the effectiveness of the re-implemented drug-testing programs as compared to the previous school year when random drug testing was suspended.

Methodology

Sixty-five high schools were identified as having random drug-testing programs that were suspended in August, 2000 (based upon information gathered in the first study). The survey instrument was sent to the principals of the 65 high schools. Fifty-nine principals responded representing 90.7% of high schools with random drug-testing programs.

Results

1. 94% of principals reported believing that the random drug-testing policy discourages drug and alcohol use among students

2. 88% (52) of high school principals responding to the survey reported re-implementation of random drug-testing at their schools

3. 73% of the principals reported a decrease in drug usage (compared to the period without a
random drug-testing program) among students who are subject to the drug-testing policy, 25% of principals reported that drug use "remained the same", 2% (1) reported an increase in drug usage

4. 51% of the high school principals reported a decrease in alcohol usage (compared to the
period without a random drug-testing program) among students at their school who are subject to the random drug-testing policy, 45% of principals reported that alcohol use "remained the same", 4% reported an increase in the use of alcohol, 26% of principals reported that their drug-testing program did not test for alcohol. Most of these principals responded to the alcohol use question with "remained the same"

5. 81% of principals reported that the information on decreases in drug and alcohol usage was based upon reports from students, 71% stated that their drug and alcohol usage responses were based upon information from teachers and staff members, 38% drew their drug and alcohol usage information from formal surveys of students conducted at the schools, 36% stated that their information on drug and alcohol usage among students came from law enforcement sources

6. 63% of the principals stated that athletic coaches provided information that the student athletes were involved in fewer incidents of drug usage as compared to the period without a random drug-testing program

7. 98% of the high school principals reported that the drug-testing policy covers students participating in interscholastic athletics, 78% reported policies that cover students participating in extra-curricular activities, 50% reported policies that cover students participating in co-curricular activities, 80% reported policies that cover students wishing to drive on school property

8. 86% of the high school principals surveyed stated that the random drug-test is conducted using urinalysis

9. 40% of principals responding to the survey reported that fewer students had been suspended
from participation in athletic programs for drug use since re-implementation of the random drug-testing program

Source: STUDENT DRUG-TESTING COALITION

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