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New Jersey Town Could Drug Test Middle Schoolers
Filed under: In The News, Behavior: Tweens, Education: Tweens
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders could get randomly tested for drugs. Credit: CBS
On Wednesday, the Board of Education will vote on the proposed policy, under which sixth, seventh and eighth graders in Belvidere, N.J., would be subject to testing, CBS New York reports.
Oxford Elementary School Principal Sandra Szabocsik tells ParentDish she has gotten mostly positive feedback from the parents she's spoken to about the proposal.
"Belvidere is a small town and there's not a whole lot to do," Szabocsik tells ParentDish. "The younger kids tend to hang out with their older brothers and sisters. The hope is that knowing that they may be drug tested at school the next day will serve as a deterrent."
The American Civil Liberties Union disagrees.
"Random drug testing does not reduce drug use among young people," Jay Rorty, director of the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project, tells ParentDish. "The high cost, high incidence of false positives and intrusive nature of the test make random testing a poor tool in the important work of drug education."
The drug test itself is a "five panel" test and officials are not allowed to say exactly what they are testing for. Szabocsik says she's unsure if alcohol is included, but says the district considers alcohol a drug.
Drug tests usually check for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines and PCP, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. However, "if a school has a particular problem with other drugs, such as MDMA, GHB or steroids, they can include testing for these drugs as well," the NIDA website states.
If a Belvidere student tests positive, he or she will be given in-school counseling, as well as a referral to an intervention if appropriate. Szabocisik says she's not sure what happens if a student refuses to get counseling.
To participate in the voluntary program, both parents and students must consent.
School officials note that kids who test positive will not be punished, nor will the police be notified. Rather, they would get counseling or be referred to a drug rehab center.
Drug testing is already mandatory for Belvidere High School students who park on campus, join clubs or participate in sports, CBS New York reports.
Schools have had greater freedom to conduct random drug testing since a 2002 Supreme Court ruling allowed random drug testing for all middle school and high school students participating in competitive extracurricular activities -- not just sports, which was the previous policy.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 7)
1-11-2011 @ 5:09PM
Jef McLaughlin said...As usual, parents want the government to do their parenting for them. And some wonder why our taxes in N.J. are so high! Talk about Big Brother, and Socialism! C'mon parents! Pay attention to your children and monitor their behavior. It's time to stop looking to the government to handle every problem, because frankly, they are not good at it! However, they are VERY good at wasting tons of money!
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1-14-2011 @ 10:57PM
Lynn said...The first thing young people do is drink alcohol, even before they try drugs. Binge drinking IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM. Wake up parents. Do not drink in front of your kids. Lock up your liquor--YES LOCK IT UP! Their brains are undergoing maturation until age 25 and if they start drinking in their teens they are 5 x as likely to become alcoholics. Their first drink is almost ALWAYS from the parents liquor supply. They will take shots off all of your bottles and then some. I don't care if you think your child would NEVER do this, they WILL. So the testing should be for alcohol.
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1-11-2011 @ 5:16PM
Jason said...I am so glad I was part of the innocent age when children believed in Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny and children weren't so advanced. Those were the good old days and the memories will always be with me. I wish today's kids could also experience those simple and happy days.
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1-11-2011 @ 5:20PM
thinlizzy068 said...That's right, make them give up their dignity and take away any rights of privacy before they even understand what the hell their rights are. This country is going insane!
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1-11-2011 @ 5:20PM
Angiebaby said...Schools should not be allowed to conduct random drug tests on students of any age. Allowing schools to do so is nothing more than permission for expansive, intrusive government interference in our private business. This is an issue that is strictly up to the parents to do at home, or for authorities to perform if a kid gets into trouble and part of their discipline is to undergo random drug tests. If schools do test for drugs before sporting events, the drugs tested for should be limited to steroids.
So long as a kid does not have drugs or do drugs on school property, the school should leave the issue alone. If administrators suspect a kid is high, they should call the parents to come and get their kid. How much more non-educational responsibility can we dump on our overburdened schools? We demand police officers and nurses in our schools, neither of which are necessary. And now drug testing? Hmmm. In house officers, institutional nurses, random drug testing. Our schools are slowly evolving into junior prisons.
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1-11-2011 @ 5:26PM
Doctorprof said...Gosh. Don't let them eat poppy seed muffins or bagels anymore. They'll test positive for opiates.
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1-11-2011 @ 5:27PM
Colin said...Great Idea every state and every Middle and High School should do this
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1-11-2011 @ 5:29PM
stephanie said...uhm.. like honestly. this is bulls**t.
im a freshman . and killll ! . honestly . just like if that'd happened to my highschool. i'd find new ways to get high , and drink and whatnot. and im sure as hell little kids would too. stop wasting tax payers money ! geez. before alll y'all penises flip inside out :p
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1-11-2011 @ 5:35PM
Yve said...I started alot of my antics in the fifth grade. Test mine! I am not one of those parents to say not my child.
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1-11-2011 @ 5:38PM
DSherline said...If my children are under age you will not do any random drug testing on them. If there is probable cause you will need to convince me of it first and then you may only do a drug test if I give you my explicit consent. Regardless of what the school board decides. No nit picky little school board is going to tell my under age child they have to provide a urine sample for drug testing, or anything else for that matter. Something like that will be my decision and mine alone. Plain and simple.
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1-11-2011 @ 5:38PM
Mona said...Sad, but true. My husband often admits that he did more drugs in Jr. High than in High School - he graduated in 76. This isn't new news. Drugs use is never good - no matter what age. Unfortunately, we're seeing it younger and younger. Whether parents are user and kids are following suit, or kids are trying to "fit in" - if you're a parent - PARENT! Watch, listen, eavesdrop - and most of all TALK TO YOUR KIDS. Keep them overly involved in activities - whether sports, or "their" hobbies. Keep them focused on SCHOOL! and LEARNING!. You're job is not to be their "friend" - but parent. SO PLEASE - PARENT - THAT IS YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!!!
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1-11-2011 @ 5:36PM
Evelyn Khelama said...Parents, at what point do you stop being lazy and apathetic and take back your children? Homeschool them. There is no reason to now with the birth of the internet, you can not only educate your kids but yourselves as well. They will learn better from you anyway in the best of all possible places: home. Keep dodging responsibility and there won't be enough jails (an industry in itself these days) to hold all the American children who will be locked away. Wake up.
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1-11-2011 @ 7:36PM
liutenantsalt said...Good to know that pretending to oppose Obama on Constitutional grounds isn't preventing the right wing from their continuous fight to subvert individual liberty and rights.
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1-11-2011 @ 5:45PM
papaschendel said...of course they should be tested. it is for the safety of the other children and when is NOT knowing, burying your head up your a$$, denial, when is that ever right?
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1-11-2011 @ 5:56PM
Blake said...WE ARE SCREWED AND IT"S ONLY JUST BEGUN!!!!!!!!!!!!WORLD FULL OF ...........,GOODBYE FREEDOM!!!!! IT"S OVER!!
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1-11-2011 @ 5:52PM
Judy said...This may be a good idea for black or latino students who do drugs and commit crimes far more often then our white students.
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1-11-2011 @ 6:19PM
Mel said...Oh let's add tome more hatred and racism to the stew. Shame on you.
1-11-2011 @ 6:04PM
sagecal said...To you who vote, "yes" are fascists who do like to NOT trust the kids. Thief think like other thieves. You thieves who like to rob the privacy and trust from kids.
Trust your kids and TALK and PLAY with them, not laid them in front of TV! In a long run, they will share with you everything.
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1-11-2011 @ 6:07PM
mike said...I,m against drugs but here we go again give up part of our freedom even our children's free rights as a american out of fear generated by a goverment instution. America is heading towards a militia state. There has to be a better way maybe better parents and not someone else telling us what to do.
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1-11-2011 @ 11:46PM
LindaRob19 said...I am here to tell you I am first a parent of a 22 year old and then a teacher who has taught 31 years. Please parents don't be naive'. Kids have changed. They are doing drugs in 3rd 4th and 5th grades. Starting with prescription drugs. Especially if older siblings are left at home a lone to take care of these kids. I wish someone had tested my son in middle school. He is now 22 and I am paying for him to be in 90 day rehab for drugs and alcohol abuse. He is a good kid, just took the wrong path. He is now doing well, but it is too bad I didn't get some help for him sooner. There needs to be programs in place for all kids who test for drug use. Mandatory, no questions asked. Wake up society, kids are not just going to parties and having a beer or two every six months. Those days are gone.
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