Current News

A recently released study by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute for Education Sciences reveals that students subject to random drug testing report lower substance use rates than their counterparts without drug testing. 16 percent of students who were tested reported using drugs in the past 30 days, while 22 percent of students in schools without a random drug testing program reported recent use.  The study also found no evidence that random testing programs reduce participation in extracurricular activities.  For more information and to download the complete report, visit IES's website.

LEGAL ISSUES:  Two new resources are available about legal issues in student drug testing.

The National School Boards Association's Council of School Attorneys has recently published an article on legal developments since the 2002 Board of Education of ISD 92 of Pottawatomie County v. Earls U.S. Supreme Court decision.  As the article shows, the constitutionality of random student drug testing has been upheld several times, although there are still legal issues being decided.  Click here for the article from the latest edition of the NSBA Council of School Attorneys Inquiry & Analysis newsletter.

Also, the American Bar Association recently held a web conference titled "What Children's Lawyers Need to Know About Mandatory Drug Testing."  Click here for the materials related to this conference.

After a decade of consistent declines in teen drug abuse, a new national study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation points to marked upswings in use of drugs that teens are likely to encounter at parties and in other social situations.  According to the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), the number of teens in grades 9-12 that used alcohol in the past month has grown by 11 percent, past year ecstasty (MDMA) use shows a 67 percent increase, and past year marijuana use shows a 19 percent increase.  The national study highlights the critical need for parents, educators, and peers to take immediate action as more teens are using dangerous substances.  For more information and to access the report, click here.

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