Mandatory Drug Testing in Schools In the 1990s, drug testing became a major legal issue when numerous school programs were initiating drug testing procedures for their students. Since then, there have been Supreme Court cases determining which students it is permissible for a school to drug test. Eventually, the conclusion came that drug testing all students would violate students’ right to privacy and the school only had a right to drug test students who are voluntarily involved in extracurricular school activities (Issitt and Newton, pars. 1-2). Despite the thoughts of many students who believe differently, mandatory drug testing in schools helps keep the school mostly drug free, keep students healthier and keep students more focused in school. Students who are involved in extracurricular activities should definitely be the top priority in students when it comes to drug testing. Athletes count on each other when it comes to their sports team. If a student is “high,” he or she is not in his or her normal mindset, resulting in a deterred performance and thus, letting his or her team down. Any student who is in sports, the band, or a club is privileged to be a part of that activity because not everyone is a part of it. For instance, a student in the National Honor Society, or any other club, is held at higher standards than a student who is not involved in any extracurricular activity. Students who are involved in extracurricular activities proved to be less active with drug substances as opposed to a student who is not drug tested in school (National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, par. 1). Drug use among students in high school was found to decrease academic performance according to the 2002-2004 National Survey on Drug and Health. According to the same survey, 72 percent of students who maintain an “A” and “B” average reported that they do not use drugs or alcohol. Drugs make learning difficult for students and they cannot grasp new material when it is taught to them (Issitt and Newton, par. 9). When it comes to peer pressure, teenagers are who the main focus falls on; most of that peer pressure involves drug use. Students who have chosen not to use drugs are exposed to drug use and are constantly peer pressured into trying the substance. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) conducted a research indication that adolescents are more likely to have conflicts with drug dependency and abuse (Issitt and Newton, par. 10). Adolescents are constantly exposed to drug use on television, in music and just about everywhere. In 2006, the Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse (CASA) obtained data indicating that over 51 percent of high school students and 20 percent of middle school students attended a school where drugs were readily available. Also in a study conducted in 2005 by the Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education