white house policy

couple of years old

http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/drug_testing/testing.html

What Should You Do Before You Begin Testing?

The decision of whether to implement a drug-testing program should not be left to one individual, or even to a school board. It should involve the entire community. In fact, by making the effort to include everyone, a school can greatly increase its chances of adopting a successful testing program.

It is not enough to have a general sense that student drug testing sounds like a good idea. Schools must first determine whether there is a real need for testing. Such a need can be determined from student drug-use surveys, reports by teachers and other school staff about student drug use, reports about drug use from parents and others in the community, and from discoveries of drug paraphernalia or drug residue at school.

Schools considering testing will want plenty of public input, bringing together anyone who has an interest in reducing student drug use.

If student drug use is found to be a significant problem, schools will want to consult early in their deliberations with an attorney familiar with laws regarding student drug testing. They should seek the advice of drug prevention and treatment professionals, and also contact officials at schools that already have drug-testing programs to learn what works and what doesn’t.

Schools considering testing will want plenty of public input. They should bring together members of the board of education, school administrators and staff, parents, community leaders, local healthcare agencies, local businesses, students, and anyone else who has an interest in reducing student drug use—even those who are against the idea. Listening to opponents and including their views can strengthen the testing program and improve its chances of success.

What Are the Elements of a Drug-Testing Program?


Many workplaces have had drug-testing programs in place for years, and recently some school districts have implemented programs for testing their athletes. Successful programs typically share a number of common elements, beginning with a clear written policy. Parents and teachers sign a statement declaring that they understand the policy, which is announced at least 90 days before testing begins. An effective policy addresses questions such as:

Which students can be tested for drug use?
What is the process for selecting students for testing?
Who will conduct the test?
What are the consequences of a positive drug test?
Are steps clearly articulated for helping students who test positive for drugs?
Will a second confirming test be done?
Who pays for the test?
Will subsequent positive tests result in suspension or expulsion from extracurricular activities?
Are test results cumulative throughout a student’s tenure at the school, or is the slate wiped clean each year?
What happens if a student refuses to take the test? Will refusal be construed as a drug-positive test?
Who will see the test results, and how will confidentiality be maintained?
How will parents be informed about positive test results?
How does a student contest the results of a positive test result? And what mechanism is in place for students whose prescription medication triggers a positive reading?
What Kinds of Tests Are Available?

Urinalysis, the most common drug testing method, has been studied exhaustively and used extensively, has undergone rigorous challenge in the courts, and has proved to be accurate and reliable. As a result, urinalysis currently is the only technique approved for drug testing in the Federal workforce. Some employers, however, have already begun using other types of drug tests—on hair, sweat, and oral fluids. Each of these new tests has benefits as well as drawbacks. The chart on page 9 outlines some of the pros and cons.