Substance Abuse
Little evidence that random drug testing in schools works
By Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
Jun 24, 2005, 19:57

The British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) has published an editorial paper arguing that the current trend of random testing in schools is a poor method of both identifying and supporting children who use illicit drugs.

Authors Clare Gerada, director of the RCGP Substance Misuse Unit, and Eilish Gilvarry, consultant psychiatrist in addiction, Centre for Alcohol and Drugs Studies, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, say there is little evidence that random testing prevents drug use in those that have not started, or deters those already engaged in drug taking.

They believe, parents and children should receive accurate and detailed information on their children�s school drug policy and any drug prevention activity that the school is engaged in. All those concerned, they argue, should be fully informed of the problems involved with biological testing and the course of action that will be taken on the result of a test.

The authors conclude that any policy introduced in schools should at the very least involve children, parents and the wider community in a consensus on the type of testing carried out and responses to such testing. They add that if drug testing programmes are instituted, a supportive environment with links to young people�s health services may be more appropriate.

Dr Gerada said: �I believe that the introduction of random drug testing in schools will detract us all from using effective models of drug prevention and education. I am concerned that this type of testing may paradoxically mean that children will hide their drug use, that drug use will be harder to detect and that this policy will foster further exclusion of our most vulnerable young people.�


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