Arguments Against Random Drug Testing

We are debating the constitutionality of random, suspicionless drug testing of high school students who participate in extracurricular activities including sports, clubs and the band. The debate centres around the fourth amendment of the constitution, which is interpreted as the protector of unreasonable search and seizure, and warrantless search without probable cause. In our case study a high school football athlete was randomly screened for drug and alcohol use and failed the screening. He was removed from the football team and is at risk for losing his college scholarship. He has decided to sue under the basis that the school’s policy is in fact unconstitutional. In 1995, in the U.S. Supreme Court case, Vernonia v. Acton, the court upheld the school district policy that required students to consent to random drug testing to participate in school sports. The court argued against the fact that random drug testing was against …show more content…
In the Supreme Court case Vernonia v. Acton, they set forth that student drug testing should only be allowed in situations where the individual student is suspected, or where a particular group of students is demonstrated to have a level of drug use of epidemic proportions. Following the wording of the 4th Amendment of the Constitution, I believe that drug testing is definitely illegal. The crux of the argument lies within how you interpret the Constitution. If you believe the constitution can be interpreted very loosely then it is easy to say that drug testing is constitutional. If you are like me, and you believe in a more strict interpretation of the constitution, then it is obvious that drug testing violates the