Cumberland high school drug testing netted zero positive results for steroids
School officials are taking the minimal rate of positive results in their random drug-testing program, among Cumberland county high schools, as a sign that the program is indeed working effectively for two years now.
Rita Parrish, head of the random drug-testing program said that all that 12 high schools were tested last year. The list included ten senior high schools and two classical high schools. Students involved in extracurricular activities, especially high school athletes were required to undergo drug testing.
During the first year of the program, 803 students were subjected to testing with only 12 students who tested positive.
During the second year, the number of students tested was increased to 1,428 with only 17 students who tested positive. No students who tested positive during the first round tested positive in the second round of testing.
Parrish was proud to announce that for two years in a row, no students ever tested positive for steroids use.
Some of the substances frequently found during testing were marijuana, alcohol and amphetamine. Marijuana topped the list causing15 out of the 17 positive results last year.
Parrish said they might continue the program until 2010 – 11 school year since funding is still enough to last another year.
From Fay Observer:
Two years of random drug testing of Cumberland County students involved in extracurricular activities show the program is doing what school officials hoped, deterring students from using illegal drugs.
That’s the opinion of Rita Parrish, who heads the random drug-testing program for the Cumberland County Schools.
