Myth vs. Fact
Myth
Random drug testing of qualifying students is unnecessary if a school already has a policy of testing students based on reasonable suspicion of drug use.
Fact
Testing based on reasonable suspicion is designed to confirm drug-using behavior, rather than deter it. Obvious signs of substance use will prompt a school authority to request a drug test from a student. The consequences of a positive test vary, depending on school policy, but can include suspension or expulsion.
The goal of random student drug testing (RSDT) is to prevent drug use and to halt the pipeline to addiction by identifying students in the early stages of drug use, before use becomes readily apparent or a dependency begins. RSDT is also non-punitive: test results are confidential and are used to refer students to appropriate treatment. Moreover, with RSDT the testing pool is large. Names are drawn by chance so students are not singled out, and teachers and administrators are not asked to make subjective decisions about suspected drug users.
Importantly, the decision to implement RSDT and the particulars of the program are determined with input from all sectors of the community—parents, educators, administrators, and others—to address the specific needs of the school.