Operation UNITE : Unlawful Narcotics Investigation Treatment and Education
Drug Testing
As a microcosm of society, school districts are not immune from the damaging effects of substance abuse. One way to proactively combat this epidemic is to implement student and staff drug testing policies, not as a punitive measure, but as a means to intervene while there is still time to change lives and attitudes. The National Student Drug-Testing Committee notes “drug use encourages truancy, disruptive class behavior, lack of teacher respect, bullying and violence. Further, student drug use interferes with learning and academic achievement and is a threat to not only the drug users, but as importantly to all students and teachers.”
When UNITE began only 4 school districts in the Fifth District had a drug-testing policy. As of September 30, 2007:
28 school districts have adopted student drug testing policies - Bath County, Bell County, Clay County, Corbin Independent, Floyd County, Harlan Independent, Hazard Independent, Jackson County, Knott County, Lee County, Leslie County, Letcher County, Magoffin County, McCreary County, Menifee County, Middlesboro Independent, Monticello Independent, Morgan County, Paintsville Independent, Perry County, Pike County, Pikeville Independent, Pineville Independent, Pulaski County, Rockcastle County, Wayne County, Whitley County and Wolfe County.
2 school districts have testing for bus drivers only - Barbourville Independent and Johnson County.
3 school districts have testing for employees only - Breathitt County, Harlan County and Owsley County.
As part of its education commitment, Operation UNITE will reimburse school systems $2,000 to supplement the costs of drug testing as well as training on creating drug testing policies and procedures. To be eligible for the reimbursement, school districts must have a student and/or employee drug testing policy. In addition, Operation UNITE will reimburse each educational cooperative up to $1,000 per training session for school districts on policy and procedures for school employee and/or student drug testing.
Student drug testing can be an effective way to prevent drug use. The expectation that they may be randomly tested is enough to make some students stop using drugs -- or never start using in the first place. By itself testing is not a cure-all, but combined with education and treatment components is a proven deterrent and intervention tool. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, drug testing has three public health goals:
Deter children from initiating drug use.
Identify children who have just started using drugs so that parents and counselors can intervene early.
Help identify children who have dependency on drugs so that they can be referred to effective drug treatment.
Individual drug testing policies for students and/or teachers will vary by the individual school district, but generally includes random testing for any student involved in athletics or competitive extra-curricular activities. The policy may also be applied to students who drive a vehicle on school property.
Drug testing has been found to be legal. In June 2002 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of the Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 of Pottawatomie County et. al. v. Earls et. al. that a school district may implement a suspicionless and random drug-testing policy for all students who voluntarily participate in competitive interscholastic activities as a “reasonable means” of furthering the school district’s important interest in preventing and deterring drug use among school children and does not violate the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition on unreasonable searches.
Operation UNITE : Unlawful Narcotics Investigation Treatment and Education
Official Site of Operation UNITE
2292 S. Highway 27, Somerset, KY 42501
606-677-6179 ● Toll Free 1-866-OP-UNITE ● Fax 606-677-6166
Operation UNITE : Unlawful Narcotics Investigation Treatment and Education
