Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Drug Testing Program
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Our priority is the health, safety, and well-being of our students. Other nationally recognized schools have implemented similar programs with positive effect.
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This is therapeutic. The spirit of this decision - and the drug testing program itself - is therapeutic, not punitive. |
Why is ESD implementing a drug testing program and when will it go into effect?
| Why has ESD decided to test its students for drug use? |
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Universal and random testing of students for illegal drug use is becoming a more frequent practice in leading independent schools across the nation. It stems from a deep concern for and commitment to student health and well being and a strong desire to protect them from potentially self-destructive behavior. Numerous studies reveal that the longer a young person avoids even casual substance use, the less likely that he or she will face abuse problems later in life. This program’s primary objective is to underscore the harmful effects of substance use on teenagers. Additionally, such testing will arm students to resist peer pressure to use drugs. While we would all like our children to be strong enough to say no, we know they need help with decision-making during the teenage years. |
| Does ESD have a drug problem? |
| No. Surveys of ESD students have consistently shown that the vast majority of our students make healthy choices and do not have problems with alcohol or other drugs. These surveys also show that drug use rates at ESD are similar to those at other schools in the Dallas area. Nevertheless, these surveys do indicate experimentation among Upper School students and, in some cases, consistent use. |
| When will this program go into effect? |
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ESD will implement its first universal drug test in March 2020. At that time, all Upper School students and all ESD employees will undergo hair testing by a reputable drug testing company, Psychemedics. Student-specific results from this inaugural round of testing will be sent directly to parents and not to the school. ESD administrators will neither receive nor have access to the student-specific results, and will only receive aggregate drug use information. These results will not be shared publicly but will be used to help inform our testing protocol moving forward including the frequency and number of random drug tests. In August 2020, all new students to ESD's Upper School will undergo testing while all returning students will, subsequently, begin random testing on a regular basis. |
| Why aren’t Middle School students being tested? Will ESD eventually consider testing them as well? |
| At this time, ESD has determined that students at the greatest risk are in grades 9-12. The school will continue to closely monitor use patterns among younger students and consider adding them to the program at a later date. |
What drugs are included in the testing?
| What drugs will be detected? |
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| ESD will test for all common and concerning recreational drugs. ESD, at this time, will not test for alcohol or nicotine. |
| Why isn’t the school testing for alcohol and nicotine? Will ESD eventually consider testing for alcohol and/or nicotine? Will this program drive more students to use alcohol? |
| We realize that drug testing is a significant new program for ESD. At this time, the program will not include alcohol and nicotine. We remain concerned about their use amongst our students, will continue to be diligent about breathalyzing at school events, and may introduce testing for those substances at a later date. Research indicates that alcohol use rates do not increase after the implementation of drug testing. |
| Will my child’s prescription drugs cause a positive test result? |
| Some prescribed medications will cause positive results. In the event of such a positive result Secure Test Results will contact parents within 48 hours of receiving the results, requesting a copy of the prescription or of the medication bottle, along with the prescribing doctor’s contact information, in order to confirm the existence and dosage of the prescription. Once confirmed, the test will be considered negative, ESD will not be notified, and no other action is necessary. If the student does not have a legitimate prescription or is taking more than was prescribed, ESD will be notified of a second positive test. |
| What if my child is near someone else who smokes marijuana? Will he or she register positive for drug use? |
| No. Psychemedics testing is carefully calibrated and will not produce a positive test result for exposure to passive contamination. |
How does the testing selection process work? What happens when there is a positive result?
| How many students will be selected for testing and will it actually be random? |
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The number of students to be tested will be determined based on the aggregate results of the universal tests in March. Students will be chosen for testing by Psychemedics’ testing partner, Secure Test Results, using a random selection process. ESD will not participate in the selection process, nor will Psychemedics be provided the identity of the selected students. |
| How will the school respond to a first positive result? |
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All first positive results will be sent to parents only. ESD will not be informed of individual test results until the second positive result. It is important to note that, in the event of a first positive test, a family can always seek the school’s assistance for assessment and therapy on a confidential basis with our counselors, without consequence. |
| How will the school respond to a second positive result? |
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The school will be notified by Secure Test Results of a student’s second positive result. The Head of Upper School will inform the student and his or her parents of the result and require a meeting shortly thereafter. ESD will most likely require the student to undergo a full substance use evaluation and strongly advocate for follow up counseling with professionals approved by the school. While we encourage all students to avail themselves of ESD’s counseling resources, information regarding a student’s second positive result will be strictly limited to a small group of administrators and counselors. Moreover, a student’s second positive test will not be reflected in his or her permanent ESD record sent to colleges, nor will it affect his or her full participation in any school-related activity. Additionally, a reported second positive result removes that student from the random pool and enters them into the periodic testing protocol in accordance with the Handbook. As a result, a student who has tested positive for a second time will be required to submit to a hair test at each subsequent testing period up to one year. |
| How will the school respond to a third positive result? |
| The student and his or her parents will be notified and required to meet with the Head of School for a conversation about the student’s continued enrollment at ESD. |
| How does this testing program impact ESD’s existing disciplinary procedures regarding substance use? |
| The school will continue to act according to disciplinary procedures regarding substance use as indicated by the Handbook. For example, ESD will continue to breathalyze at school dances, and test students who are suspected of substance use, with responses determined in accordance with the Handbook. |
| May I request a retest if I believe that my child’s positive test is inaccurate? |
| Yes. All positive results are automatically subjected to retesting of the original sample at Psychemedics. If a family requests an additional retest of the hair sample, it can be performed. Parents may request a second hair sample test within three business days of the initial results notification. If the requested second test by Psychemedics confirms the positive result, it will be considered final, and family will be billed for the retest. |
| What will happen to the drug testing records? |
| The testing company, Psychemedics, which never receives student names, holds positive results for five years. Secure Test Results will also hold relevant information for four years. No documentation pertaining to student screening results will be made part of permanent records. ESD will destroy student names, numbers, and results related to the drug testing program during the summer after students graduate. |
Who is conducting the tests and how?
| How reputable is the company that performs the lab tests? |
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| Psychemedics is used by Fortune 500 companies, colleges, courts, major police forces, and over two hundred secondary schools . For more information, please visit their website. |
| How are the hair samples taken? |
| Hair samples are collected in controlled circumstances to provide a secure chain of custody. An ESD administrator will be present throughout the collection process, which will be performed by our school nurses. The amount of hair needed for testing is equal to the diameter of lead inside a pencil. It will be taken from near the base, where it is least likely to be noticed. If a student has too little hair to be taken from the head, hair will be taken from the armpits, legs, or arms. If a student attempts to circumvent the testing, he or she will be subject to disciplinary action and monthly testing. |
| Why hair sampling rather than urinalysis? |
| The primary difference between hair testing and urinalysis is the wider window of detection with hair testing. Many common and concerning recreational drugs are rapidly excreted from the body and usually undetectable in urine 48-72 hours after use. Unlike a body-fluid test, a hair test detects drug use over a period of months, ensuring that a drug user cannot evade the test by simply abstaining for a few days. Hair sampling also eliminates possibilities for substitution or adulteration of samples. |
| Will chemically treated hair or typical hair products affect the results? |
| No, standard hair products will not significantly affect the results. |
| What are the rules if we opt for urine testing? |
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Miscellaneous Questions and Additional Information
| Does universal and random drug testing violate the Fourth Amendment or Texas State Law? |
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| No. ESD is a private school, not a state actor, therefore constitutional rights do not apply to the contractual relationship between the school and its community members. |
| How will this program be funded? |
| The school’s operating budget will cover the expenses for this testing program. After a second positive test result, however, all costs and expenses of the substance use evaluation, counseling, and subsequent testing will be the family’s responsibility and will not be paid by ESD. |
| I am concerned that my child is already experimenting with substance use. Where may I turn for help? |
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A family can always approach any ESD administrator or counselor with a concern without fear of disciplinary repercussions. We would encourage any family with questions or need of assistance to utilize the school’s experience and expertise in this area. Please refer to Mr. Heil’s Upper School newsletter from October 4, 2019, and revisit the “safe harbor” policy found in the ESD Handbook.
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| Where can I get more information? |
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If anyone is interested in learning more about teen drug abuse and its dangers, you will find some helpful resources linked below: |
