Random drug testing has been a hot topic in recent months in schools around Southern Lehigh. Pennsylvania is one of a few states that allows random school drug testing. Could it happen here?
At Hickory School District in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Officer Anthony Moses, has put forth a revolutionary idea to combat the growing drug use in the district. This unique program involves students voluntarily signing up to be randomly drug tested with parental permission.
Results from the test are only given to the parents and not to the school or police force. By making this voluntary, it creates positive peer pressure to stay away from drugs.
However, Southern Lehigh’s Officer Brian McLaughlin feels, “If it’s voluntary, then it’s not enough.”
Officer McLaughlin described the system in place at Southern Lehigh for dealing with student drug use.
“The system we have here at school includes the SAP program, but in order for us to get involved we need to know if the student is a danger to themselves or others and we have to show violation of the law,” Officer McLaughlin said. “I can’t just go and ask a student if they are doing drugs, but [assistant principal] Mr. Covelle can.”
As for random drug testing in Southern Lehigh, Officer McLaughlin feels that day is not far off.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually we would have something like that,” he said. “We certainly are leaning towards that being a reality.”
