Should school students face mandatory drug-tests?
All the Yes points:
- There is a clear and present problem with drug use among teenagers in many countries. Current measu…
- Students who do not break the law by taking drugs have nothing to fear….
- The purpose of random drug testing is not so much to catch offenders but to prevent all students fro…
- Peer pressure is the primary cause of experimentation with drugs. Discouraging drug use amongst ath…
- Urine, hair and breath samples can be used to detect use of most common drugs, especially cannabis, …
All the No points:
There is a clear and present problem with drug use among teenagers in many countries. Current measu…
Yes because…
There is a clear and present problem with drug use among teenagers in many countries. Current measures to tackle drugs at the source (i.e. by imprisoning dealers and breaking the supply chain) are not succeeding. It is especially important to protect teenagers, at an impressionable age and at the time when their attitude to education greatly affects their entire lives. Some sacrifice of human rights is necessary to tackle the drug problem.
No because…
Most justice systems hold to the notion of innocence until proven guilty. To enforce random drug testing (thereby invading the privacy of students about whom there is no suspicion of drug use) is to view them as guilty until proven innocent. Nothing justifies the sacrifice of human rights for innocent people.
Students who do not break the law by taking drugs have nothing to fear….
Yes because…
Students who do not break the law by taking drugs have nothing to fear.
No because…
Innocent students do have something to fear – the violation of privacy and loss of dignity caused by a drug test.
The purpose of random drug testing is not so much to catch offenders but to prevent all students fro…
Yes because…
The purpose of random drug testing is not so much to catch offenders but to prevent all students from offending in the first place.
No because…
The idea of prevention goes to the root of the drug problem; other methods of deterrence are less invasive, such as encouraging extra-curricular activities, fostering better parental relations, tackling poverty and safety and so on.
Peer pressure is the primary cause of experimentation with drugs. Discouraging drug use amongst ath…
Yes because…
Peer pressure is the primary cause of experimentation with drugs. Discouraging drug use amongst athletes, model students etc. sends a powerful message to the entire student body.
No because…
Teenagers, especially drug-taking teenagers, are attracted by rebellion and the chance of beating the system. Draconian, Big Brother-style tactics of random drug testing will only provoke resentment and encourage students to break the law. Peer pressure is increased as they unite against school authorities.
Urine, hair and breath samples can be used to detect use of most common drugs, especially cannabis, …
Yes because…
Urine, hair and breath samples can be used to detect use of most common drugs, especially cannabis, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine or PCP.
No because…
Drug users will only turn to drugs that are more difficult to test, such as ‘designer’ drugs, or use masking agents before being tested.
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