News (Media Awareness Project) - US NJ: LTE: Random Drug Testing May Cut School Violence |
| Title: | US NJ: LTE: Random Drug Testing May Cut School Violence |
| Published On: | 2002-05-29 |
| Source: | Daily Journal, The (NJ) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-23 06:27:02 |
RANDOM DRUG TESTING MAY CUT SCHOOL VIOLENCE
The state Department of Education's recent "Report of Violence, Vandalism
and Substance Abuse in New Jersey Schools" shows that substance incidents
in our schools are up 20 percent.
Research continually report statistics demonstrating that student drug and
alcohol use is at a dangerous level. For example, the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University reports that
for the last six years school children have listed drugs as the most
important problem they face.
A 1997 CASA survey revealed that high school students see more drug deals
at school than in their neighborhoods. In the survey, 76 percent of high
school students claim that drugs are kept, used or sold on school grounds.
In addition, 29 percent of high school students claim that a student in
their school died from a drug-or alcohol-related incident in the last year.
CASA also reports that substance abuse adds at least $41 billion to the
costs of elementary and secondary education in terms of special education,
teacher turnover, truancy, property damage, injury and more.
According to a study in the Journal of American Medical Association,
students who use drugs are more likely to bring guns and knives to school,
leading to school violence. According to the state report, assaults are up
30 percent with school staff as victims in 19 percent of the cases.
Schools must be allowed to use all reasonable means to combat drug and
alcohol use if education is to be successful and our schools are to be
safe. Drug testing deters drug use and gives students a reason to say "no"
when their peers ask them to use drugs.
Our nation uses random drug testing on military personnel and
transportation workers to ensure national security and safe travel. Our
interests in student safety, health and educational quality are equally
compelling. We must be willing to use the same tools to defend our
children. They deserve no less.
David G. Evans, Esq.
Executive director, Drug-Free Schools Coalition
Flemington
The state Department of Education's recent "Report of Violence, Vandalism
and Substance Abuse in New Jersey Schools" shows that substance incidents
in our schools are up 20 percent.
Research continually report statistics demonstrating that student drug and
alcohol use is at a dangerous level. For example, the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University reports that
for the last six years school children have listed drugs as the most
important problem they face.
A 1997 CASA survey revealed that high school students see more drug deals
at school than in their neighborhoods. In the survey, 76 percent of high
school students claim that drugs are kept, used or sold on school grounds.
In addition, 29 percent of high school students claim that a student in
their school died from a drug-or alcohol-related incident in the last year.
CASA also reports that substance abuse adds at least $41 billion to the
costs of elementary and secondary education in terms of special education,
teacher turnover, truancy, property damage, injury and more.
According to a study in the Journal of American Medical Association,
students who use drugs are more likely to bring guns and knives to school,
leading to school violence. According to the state report, assaults are up
30 percent with school staff as victims in 19 percent of the cases.
Schools must be allowed to use all reasonable means to combat drug and
alcohol use if education is to be successful and our schools are to be
safe. Drug testing deters drug use and gives students a reason to say "no"
when their peers ask them to use drugs.
Our nation uses random drug testing on military personnel and
transportation workers to ensure national security and safe travel. Our
interests in student safety, health and educational quality are equally
compelling. We must be willing to use the same tools to defend our
children. They deserve no less.
David G. Evans, Esq.
Executive director, Drug-Free Schools Coalition
Flemington
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