What is drug testing? Drug testing is an examination of biological material such as urine, hair, saliva, or sweat to detect the presence of specific drugs and determine previous drug use. Random drug testing programs for students, RSDT, are increasingly common (Edwards). RSDT can help identify students who are already abusing illicit drugs. Yet, in most schools, drug tests are only performed on students, when teachers and staff should also do so. Illicit drug use interferes with learning ability, affects other students' learning, and disrupts the (casual) learning environment. While drug testing seems like a good idea at first glance, it may not be the best decision for every circumstance. Drug testing in high schools won't do much good. It will cause use in other drugs and create more problems with alternative uses and more subtle behavior. Drug tests do not prevent drug abuse or prevent them from doing so. Usually it simply pushes them towards harder drugs or unfamiliar situations. There have been many changes in today's school systems to help prevent drug use in students beyond just drug testing. They introduced a zero tolerance policy. In schools, common zero-tolerance policies address the possession or use of drugs or weapons. Students, and sometimes staff, parents and other visitors, who possess a prohibited item for any reason must always be punished. They also introduced metal detectors, sniffer dogs and camera systems. The zero tolerance policy has been shown to reduce the presence of these things on school property but does not prevent them outside school walls. So how do we keep students drug-free outside of schools? Are there moral aspects to drug testing on the student body... middle of paper... ext. Network. November 25, 2013. Yamaguchi, Ryoko. “Relationship between students, illicit drug use and school”. Student Drug Testing.org. 2003. PDF file.Yamaguchi, Ryoko. “Drug Testing in Schools: Policies, Practices, and Association with Student Drug Use.” DrugPolicy.org. 2003. PDF file.