Kicking drug testing up a notch

Random drug searches involving dogs are already part of Carmel High School's drug policy but school officials are planning to intensify searching practices. The proposed policy involves random tests for drugs and alcohol for students who drive to school or participate in athletics, music or other extracurricular activities. \nThough ultimate responsibility for monitoring the students' habits belong to their parents, the school ought to take measures to discourage risky and harmful behavior since it does supervise the students for a large part of the day. Ensuring that students remain free of substance abuse is only part of creating a safe and healthy learning environment.\nStudents coming to school under the effects of alcohol and illegal drugs (just as much as bringing them on school premises) indicates a major problem. Random drug tests would be able to identify the students with such a problem and, more than punishing them, help them overcome it. Drug addiction is a serious matter with both legal and medical ramifications and the sooner it is dealt with, the less harm its sufferers will present to society and themselves.\nAlso, the random drug searching is directed at students who use school privileges such as parking and activity participation. It is only fair that students who use such privileges paid for by the public should not be abusing them by breaking laws intended for public safety.\nWe cede to the schools more responsibility over students every day -- drug testing is only one more way of reasonably ensuring their safety while in the school's care.