Examining Student Attitudes and Preventative Effects of Drug Testing

Purpose: This study examined student attitudes toward high school drug testing and the preventative effects of a random drug testing program. Significance: Findings from this study provide insight into high school student attitudes towards random drug testing at school and may lend support to random drug testing programs in high schools. Procedures: A one-page survey was distributed to students in one midwestern high school (N = 2000). Face and content validity and stability reliability were established a priori. Internal consistency reliability ranged from .80 to .89. Findings: A total of 1500 high school students returned completed surveys (75%). Of respondents, half were male and half were female. More than one in three (34%) students reported being tested for drugs at school or at school events. Females were significantly more likely than males to support random drug testing at school and to believe testing prevents alcohol and drug use among students. Conclusions: These findings suggest females may be more likely than males to support drug testing programs. Educational programs should target males with information regarding random drug testing at school.