Schools, both private and public, are beginning to adopt drug testing policies. After all, the theory goes, the chances of getting caught rise tremendously with such policy, thus making testing a deterrent against regular drug use. If your school decides to implement its own drug testing policy, there are a lot of "moving parts" to consider—from communicating with the school community and avoiding potential discrimination suits, all the way to coordinating testing efforts and selecting vendors.
One of those "parts" is the test itself. While the urine drug test predominates school drug-testing conversation, there are other options available, depending on what you want to accomplish—and what you want to spend.
Urine Testing
- Collection Method: A test subject is asked to urinate into a collection unit, after which the unit is handed to a technician, who seals the unit and mails it to the lab for analysis.
- Cost: Generally the least expensive type of test ($7-$50).
- Sensitivity: Typically detects drug use within the past week, though the detection period can be longer if test subject is a regular user—up to 60 days for heavy marijuana users.
- Strengths: Inexpensive, fast, and easy, the urine drug test is the go-to solution for many private schools looking to deter students from making poor decisions. Often used during random drug-testing scenarios.
- Weaknesses: Tests can be tampered with, due to the private nature of sample collection. However, collection units usually have methods of measuring temperature to encourage "fresh" collection. Testing at the lab includes looking for unusual chemicals that may have been added, like bleach, which will indicate whether attempted tampering took place.
Hair Testing
- Collection Method: A sample of 1.5 inches of hair is taken directly from a test subject's head, as close to the scalp as can be managed safely. The hair is then sealed and sent to the lab for analysis.
- Cost: Most expensive of common drug testing methods used in schools ($100-$150).
- Sensitivity: Typically detects drug use within the past three months, as hair samples are usually 1.5 inches long and hair grows at an average rate of half an inch per month.
- Strengths: Bleach, dye, and other harsh hair treatments will not affect the outcome of the test, as the drug residue is inside the follicle.
- Weaknesses: It takes anywhere from a week to 10 days for drug remnants to appear in hair, depending on how fast hair grows. Therefore, any drugs used within the last week will not be detected through this test.
Saliva Testing
- Collection Method: A test subject sucks on a provided swab until it is thoroughly soaked in saliva. The swab is either sealed and mailed to a lab for analysis, or placed on a strip for indicator marks to appear—similar to a pregnancy test.
- Cost: More expensive than urine, but less than hair ($15-$75).
- Sensitivity: Typically detects drug use within the past few days. Detects methamphetamines and opiates better than marijuana usage.
- Strengths: Considered less invasive than either urine or hair testing, saliva testing is also excellent for random spot-checks for students. Some kits come with a detection strip for immediate review on premises, though they should be sent to a lab to ensure accuracy.
- Weaknesses: Saliva testing hasn't been as popular as urine or hair testing, and so universal testing standards aren't available. Test quality varies and is dependent on the brand.
Sweat Testing
- Collection Method: A test subject wears a patch with a strong adhesive for several weeks. During that time, the patch absorbs the subject's sweat and any excreted illicit substances imbibed.
- Cost: Generally considered to be more expensive than urine testing, but less than hair.
- Sensitivity: Any drug use while the patch is attached over the two week period will result in a positive reading.
- Strengths: Again, it's less invasive and will trigger on any drug use during the application period, which means it's good for monitoring known addicts rather than detecting new ones. Plus, the patches are designed to show damage if the subject tries to remove it, which means that it's difficult to tamper with the results.
- Weaknesses: There's some debate on whether casual surface contact with illicit substances (e.g., test subject enters a room in which others are smoking marijuana, exposing the subject to secondhand smoke) would cause a false positive.
Additional ISM resources:
Private School News Vol. 8 No. 9 Drug Screening Employees
ISM Monthly Update for School Heads Vol. 13 No. 2 Fact or Fiction? 5 Strange Ways Students (Try to) Get High
ISM Monthly Update for School Heads Vol. 12 No. 10 Prescription Drug Abuse Is (Still) a Problem in Private Schools
Additional ISM resources for Gold Consortium members:
I&P Vol. 29 No. 6 Random Drug Testing Policies for Students
