Random Drug Testing in Schools

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 13:32

It is evident that there is a clear and present problem with drug use among teenagers in many countries. It would appear that the current measures to tackle drugs at the source, by imprisoning dealers and breaking the supply chain, are not succeeding. It is especially important to protect teenagers, at an impressionable age and at the time when their attitude to education greatly affects their entire lives. Do you feel some sacrifice of human rights is necessary to tackle the drug problem?



Should school students face mandatory drug-tests?

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 13:55

My own view is that there should be mandatory testing.

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 14:00

I think that some teachers need them after a hectic day.............

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 14:36

The teachers do need the same drugs tests that would be given to the kids

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 15:16

If it is possible to do the tests with a drop of blood like a glucose test it should be done on everybody and drug addiction at schools will come to an end. If the test is more elaborate and needs more blood, it can be done at random to about a third of the class. Next year it should be at random again so as to keep everybody alert and away from the drugs.

ismet

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 15:31

Bill,

It is not only random drugs tests that are needed in schools now but also the kids need tested for alcohol misuse as well. I have in the past had kids as young as 10yrs being brought into hospital under the influence of one or the other. Random drug tests are okay but compulsory testing in certain areas of the UK is needed. And then what, do you exclude them from school, tell their parents!!! Just how do you tackle a problem like this. And do we blame the parents ??remember not all these kids come from disfunctional families. Alcohol and drugs know no class boundaries, race or colour. So where does that leave us, certainly heavier penalties from the courts for supplying the drugs. Maybe American style boot camps for the kids who test positive.

My way of dealing with this would be to let the kids see real life videos of the horrors of somebody going through withdrawal or bleeding to death through oesophageal varices ( varicose veins in the gullet). Shocking yes!

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 15:33

Chris, I agree with you. I'd even go as far as to say that the children should be made to visit these people in hospitals and institutions and see these people in real life.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
23/09/2009 21:29

Bill.

Much as I have strong feelings on this subject I think that videos would be enough to scare the kids. As a Nurse and I am sure that other nurses on the forum (at least 4 of them) would agree you would not want to witness first hand some of the things we have seen!!! Things like 'varices' where they bleed to death its not just the mess or even the smell, you can actually taste the smell for the rest of your life.!!!!!!!!!!! Probably does not make sense to most of you but believe me it is awful leaving a ward after a 12 hour shift with patients like that and you go home brush your teeth, have a shower and it still leaves a taste in your mouth !!!!