Foreword
In June 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court broadened the authority of
public schools to test students for illegal drugs. Voting 5 to 4, the
Court ruled to allow random drug tests for all middle and high
school students participating in competitive extracurricular activities.
The ruling greatly expands the scope of school drug testing, which
previously had been allowed only for student athletes.
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| John P. Walters |
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There are those, of course, who will represent
the Court’s decision as a blow against privacy
and a victory for “Big Brother.” These concerns
are largely unfounded, however, and to
focus on them is to ignore the enormous
potential benefits of drug testing. Already,
testing has been shown to be extremely effective
at reducing drug use in schools and businesses
all over the country. As a deterrent, few
methods work better or deliver clearer results.
Drug testing of airline pilots and school bus
drivers, for example, has made our skies and
roads safer for travel.
Parents, educators—indeed, anyone concerned about the welfare of
our young people—should welcome the High Court’s action. It’s a
big step in the right direction, for it gives every school in every city
and every town a powerful new tool for controlling one of the worst
threats facing kids today.
The ruling could not have come at a better time. Monitoring the
Future, a national survey that tracks drug use among America’s
youth, reports that in 2001 more than half of all students had used
illicit drugs by the time they finished high school.Moreover, the
2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse revealed that of the
4.5 million people age 12 and older who need drug treatment, 23
percent are teenagers.
This failure to protect our children from drug use and addiction is
unacceptable.We cannot responsibly withhold tools as effective as
drug testing from communities that believe such measures are
appropriate and will save young lives.
Research shows that people who make it through their teenage years
without using drugs are much less likely to start using them when
they are older. So if testing can help keep kids off drugs and alcohol,
if it can help free young minds for learning and allow growing bodies
to escape the devastating cycle of dependence or addiction, it
will be a valuable and important new tool.
Experience has taught us that people at the local level often know
best how to deal with drug problems in their communities. But to
combat this insidious threat, they need good information and the
best resources available. The Supreme Court’s ruling will help
schools meet these needs. This is good news for students, parents,
and teachers. And it is good news for America.
John P.Walters
Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Last Updated: September 20, 2002
