Drug Education News

DrugScope have welcomed the ACMD’s recommendation that schools shouldn’t use random drug testing in schools. Young People Now have the story:

Jenny McWhirter, head of education and prevention at drugs charity DrugScope, said there was no evidence that drug testing in schools actually worked: “There are strong ethical grounds against it and we need the trust of young people.”

She added that levels of illegal drug use were similar to a decade ago, even though more young people were being offered them.

Members of the Drug Education Forum do not have a single view on using random drug testing in schools. Some of our members are against it believing that testing is not compatible with creating a supportive environment for young people’s learning. Others take the view that this is something that individual schools should be able to employ in trying to reduce the harm that is done by illegal drugs.