Later this month, Rock Hill schools will be making a final decision about imposing random drug tests on their high school students.
Leaders at Northwestern High School say the purpose of the drug tests would be to help students, not punish them – it would be focused on getting them counseling and into recovery programs.
If the new drug testing policy were to pass, Rock Hill students who test positive would temporarily be suspended from sports and would be required to go to counseling.
According to recent surveys, Rock Hill’s two most commonly used drugs are marijuana and alcohol, followed closely by prescription pain pills.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it is legal to test students participating in competitive extracurricular activities (about 80% of Rock Hill high school students), according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, however, the widespread testing all students is illegal.
School districts are also allowed to test student drivers because driving on the school campus is a privilege, commented Ryan Brown, S.C. Department of Education’s spokesman.
The random drug testing would cost the Rock Hill School District about $3,000 per year (between $15 and $20 for each test).
Do you think Rock Hill should start testing their students for drugs?