STUDY FINDS TESTING REDUCES DRUG USE IN STUDENTS

Districts Can Decide To Screen Students

Students who are subject to drug testing while participating in
extracurricular activities use drugs less than those who aren't
tested, according to a study by the Institute of Education Sciences.

According to the study released last week by IES, the research arm of
the U.S. Department of Education, 16 percent of students subject to
drug testing reported using banned substances in the past 30 days,
compared with 22 percent of students who aren't tested at school.

However, random testing didn't change students' plans for drug use in
the future. Of the students subject to testing, 34 percent said they
"definitely will" or "probably will" use substances in the next year,
compared to 33 percent who aren't tested.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen recently signed a bill into law that
allows school districts to decide if they want to require drug
testing for students participating in extracurricular activities.

Memphis City Schools doesn't do random drug tests, officials said
last month. A few Shelby County high schools, including Millington
Central High and Houston High, have opted to test students at times
over the years.

Germantown High School started doing random drug tests on students
involved in extracurricular activities in the early 1990s, said
principal Mike McIntyre.

"The biggest reason we did it was to educate our students and
community," McIntyre said. "We never did it for punishment."

Every year, the school tests more than 600 students who are involved
in athletics, cheerleading, band and fine arts. They don't know when
they'll be tested and it's not always during the season.

McIntyre said students "are bombed with peer pressure" to use drugs.
He tells them to use the drug testing rule as a reason to say "no."

"When a kid was caught at a party on a Friday, they could say, 'Hey
man, I can't do it, Mr. McIntyre's about to drug test me,'" he said.
"... I want a kid to be able to say 'no' without being labeled."

At Germantown, if a student fails a drug test the first time,
McIntyre -- who is the only person who gets the results -- tells only
the parents. If he or she fails again, they bring in the student and
parents and offer counseling.

The third time, the sponsor of the sport or activity is brought into
the loop and many times the student is no longer allowed to participate.

"We kind of run our program like three strikes you're out," he said.
"If it's the third time, then I think we've got bigger things to
worry about than playing a sport or playing an instrument."

McIntyre said there were no positive test results for marijuana last
school year.

The city of Germantown provides a grant for the drug tests, which
cost $11 each.

The IES study, which evaluated high schools in seven school districts
spread across seven states, also found that drug testing at a school
doesn't reduce participation in extracurricular activities.

To see the full study, visit ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs /20104025/index.asp.