Middle School Drug Testing Essay

Middle School Testing?

Middle School. The gateway to the rest of your life. Where kids start to figure out their true selves, trying to be cool, feuds with friends, judgment, popularity, crushes, fashion. Many kids try new things and try to fit in. The choices when you make can influence you for the rest of your life. Although many think it is unconstitutional, middle school drug testing may help kids make the right decisions. Drug abuse has been an issue for a really long time. I think that drug testing in middle school will prevent drug and alcohol use in high school, make schools a safe environment, and get addicted kids help before it’s too late. A drug test is generally done through urinalysis, which is quick and painless (Urine Drug

“Dan Cassino said when middle-school students are tested for drugs, they realize drug use can get them in trouble” (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids). According to one study, when kids were tested randomly tested in middle school there was less of a spike of drug and alcohol abuse than when middle-schoolers weren’t tested (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids). Peer pressure is a big part of drug abuse. Many kids give into the peer pressure of their friends telling them to do drugs. But with built in excuse of drug testing, they would be less likely to. Drug testing would also affect the environment of middle schools in a positive way and help with intervention of addiction, which increases their chance of a successful future (John). Drug abuse can cause learning problems in students as well as the teaching environment (NIDA). Middle school kid’s brains are still developing and even drugs like marijuana can affect the brain any age up to twenty-five (Mrs. Pollard). Drug testing does cost lots of money to do for everyone who is doing an extracurricular activity (Stifferlin). If you think about it though, it costs a lot more money to pay for a procedure to save their life after an overdose. All in all, drug testing seems to be worth the time and the