Drug Testing HS Athletes

[MikeHenriksen]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

I am with HoboJack all the way.

I don't happen to think that things are "out of control". I think this generation may be smarter about drugs than we were.

Also, did the Montana talk show host explain who is going to pay for these tests and results? Our schools are not exactly rolling in cash.

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

I am with HoboJack all the way.

I don't happen to think that things are "out of control". I think this generation may be smarter about drugs than we were.

Also, did the Montana talk show host explain who is going to pay for these tests and results? Our schools are not exactly rolling in cash.

He did talk about costs and how the tests are relatively cheap.....I am not sure if they are inexpensive or not. I know he has done some research on the subject as he wrote letters to a bunch of the local school superintendents to see if he could get something done. He has also called the MHSA, but they won't return his calls.

The money thing would be something that would need to be figured out. I don't think it would deter every kid, but I think it would deter most.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

It has been some time since I had to research issues involving employee drug testing, so I may not remember everything exactly correct. During the research I ran across information on testing of high school students. Several school districts across the country already do this, and I believe some state activity associations have mandated it (maybe state legislatures). I was focused on how much testing has to be done to have an impact on behavior and a lot of the research on this was done at the high school level. Basically the research showed that in order to have any measurable affect, the amount of testing done needed to be so high that it was economically unaffordable for most school districts. The research also showed that the younger the work force the greater amount of testing that needed to be done. I think most people can see where this is going, when you are young you think you are invincible and won't get caught unless you get beat over the head with it over and over and over.

That being said, I signed our son up for the voluntary random testing program that the SF school district had in place when he was in high school. I don't think it changed his behavior, maybe in part because in his four years of high school he never heard of anyone being randomly selected for the testing. I think testing can be a good tool, but don't kid yourself, a single tool in tool belt doesn't make for a very effective carpenter.

[ringthebells]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

Huh?
curricular activities vs extra-curricular activities.
Right to participate in the second might be based on the first, but not sure how the second is an extension of the first.
I admit before hand that I most likely am missing something obvious in what you meant.

Most high school use the extra curricular activity is an extension of the classroom line in their sportmanship jargon hanging on their gym walls. To test only the athletes and not the entire school population sends the message that athletics is more important than the classroom.

Mike made a great point as well, schools cannot afford to test the athletes or the students. Adding costs to the schools while Pierre is underfunding is a receipe for failure.

[jackmd]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

It's a controversial subject to say the least. Very few people are harmed by false positive test results but for those people who are harmed it can be devastating. It is the responsibility of anyone in authority to assure that the benefits of random testing outweigh any risk associated with false test results. We don't go around testing everyone for HIV or lung cancer or being a witch because no test is 100% accurate. When you perform a test you ought to have some understanding of the pre-test probability independent of the test result or you'll find yourself screwing up someones life (refer to Baye's theorem if that doesn't make sense). I suspect illegal drug use among high school students is still relatively rare and I suspect random testing will result in some false positives and that will lead to more trouble than good. Don't get me wrong, there won't be many false positives, however, how would you like to be the one it happens to?

If there is truly a major issue with illegal drug use amongst high school students, athletes or not, I think it should be the responsibility of local governing bodies to implement a remedy. That may or may not include random drug testing.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

Most high school use the extra curricular activity is an extension of the classroom line in their sportmanship jargon hanging on their gym walls. To test only the athletes and not the entire school population sends the message that athletics is more important than the classroom.

I see what you were getting at now. I was correct on my prediction of missing something obvious.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

Most high school use the extra curricular activity is an extension of the classroom line in their sportmanship jargon hanging on their gym walls. To test only the athletes and not the entire school population sends the message that athletics is more important than the classroom.

Mike made a great point as well, schools cannot afford to test the athletes or the students. Adding costs to the schools while Pierre is underfunding is a receipe for failure.

I gotta disagree with your first paragraph. Extra curriculars already require additional criteria be met for participation. Most athletes go through a physical prior to competition. Certain grades must be maintained. Practice and travel requirements. These are all examples of requirements placed on athletes that are not placed on the general student body.

To test athletes sends a message that athletes are held to a higher standard than the general student population.

Participation in extra curricular aspect of school is a privilege. Classroom attendance is not.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

Participation in extra curricular aspect of school is a privilege. Classroom attendance is not.

That depends on the classroom involved.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

That depends on the classroom involved.

True enough. I should have said school attendance is mandatory until a certain age.

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

I suspect illegal drug use among high school students is still relatively rare and I suspect random testing will result in some false positives and that will lead to more trouble than good.

If there is truly a major issue with illegal drug use amongst high school students, athletes or not, I think it should be the responsibility of local governing bodies to implement a remedy. That may or may not include random drug testing.

The host said he saw a study that said 50% of HS students had tried marijuana. Now I am sure the number that are really abusing the drug is small, but as far as I am concerned doing it once is unacceptable.

[UWMandSDSU]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

Here is a very good website and organization that goes around the country and talks to athletic teams about drugs and alcohol.
www.americanathleticinstitute.org/

Reported % use of marijuana by athletes by the time they are High School Seniors: 20.1%
Reported % use of alcohol by athletes by the time they are High School seniors: 58.5%

In a survey conducted by Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2003 it was discovered that 1,000,000 12-17 year olds reported using Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs).

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Drug Testing HS Athletes

True enough. I should have said school attendance is mandatory until a certain age.

Actually attendance is no required to age 18, so that is much more limited. I was thinking of being allowed in to certain AP classes.