NOT ONLY ATHLETES SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR DRUGS

TESTING HIGH school athletes for drugs is a hot issue. The controversy has
stretched from small town Oregon all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

And I agree that schools should test athletes. But I'll take it one step
further.

Let's test every student.

Schools should have the right to test both athletes and students in other
extracurricular activities because those people represent the school at
public events. Games, concerts, tournaments - they are all events in which
students show others a picture of our school.

Non-athletes also should be tested, especially in small communities where
middle school and elementary students mix with high school students every day.

And even at larger schools, the doors always are open to visiting adults.
Just by being in the hallway, you still represent your school.

I'm an athlete. I participate in a couple of clubs at school, and if
members of my teams or clubs are willing to jeopardize their positions just
to get high for a while, then they don't deserve to participate. And I
don't want them there.

What's more, if any of my teammates were tested and found to be using
drugs, I would gladly forfeit a season if it made that person realize the
stupidity of illegal substances and made them stop using them.

It's an easy position for me to take, because getting high has never
appealed to me, nor has using drugs because of peer pressure. Many teens
use drugs because "everybody" is doing it. And I assume they'll keep using
until they realize that drugs are not a part of a successful life, or until
something terrible happens to them.

I don't buy into the peer pressure argument. Research shows that the vast
majority of both eighth-graders and high school seniors are not doing drugs.

I don't see how the temporary state of feeling high is worth the negative
side effects. Take marijuana, for example.

Regular users who try to quit can experience insomnia, chaotic dreams,
night sweats and hot flashes, mood swings, anger, frustration, headaches,
anxiety, depression and apathy. Pot use has been associated with bronchitis
and digestive disturbances, and quitting has led to loss of appetite and
weight loss.

Why put your body through that just to "be cool" or to have a "happy high"
for a little while?

But the main reason students should be tested is that drugs are illegal.
It's not that the government is trying to oppress you, but that drugs are
bad for you.

If testing keeps just one student from using drugs, then it's worth it. If
you come to school with an illegal substance in your system, then some
steps need to be taken.

Schools should notify parents, require drug classes and assign community
service for offenders. After a second failed test, they should be turned
over to police.

These methods may seem harsh, but the affects of drugs are much worse.

We need more ways to keep younger kids away from drugs, and if the penalty
is severe the message to kids is, "Dude, don't risk it."

Some people say that doing drugs outside of school is not the school's
business. Others say they don't do drugs and shouldn't have to take a test.

Well, if you go to school with drugs in your system, you should get busted.
And if you don't do drugs, then what are you so worried about?

Such testing would be a mortal wound to those who enjoy the party scene.
But in the long run, they will have fewer regrets as they head down the
road of life.

I'm sorry if it would force them to miss bad experiences, but that's the
consequence of not doing drugs.

Jillian Green is a freshman at Lowell High.