Image: Dobyns Bennett High School Image Credit: dbhs.k12k.com
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Kingsport City Schools officials tout the success of last year’s random drug testing initiative, saying it was effective in bringing greater awareness to the importance of student health.
A total of 140 students who participate in a variety of sports and school activities were randomly tested. Of those, seven students tested positive for drugs.
“We did have a few positives, which was to be anticipated,” said Chief Student Services Officer Jim Nash. “So, we were not overly surprised by the results.”
Nash said part of the purpose of the program was to give students a way to say no to illegal substances.
“You know, if faced with the choice of using some type of illegal drug or anything of that nature, it’s an opportunity to say, like, no, I’d really rather not so that I don’t, you know, get in trouble or lose the ability to participate,” he stated.
While administrators feel the program was a success, schools still saw an increase in vapes containing both nicotine and THC being used.
“So, we continue to work with our students and parents and community to help educate them on the risks that are involved with that,” Nash said. “That is definitely a concern of mine, of the district moving forward, just the health risks that are involved with that for young people and, trying to educate them and have them to have opportunities to be able to say no if faced with those choices.”
According to Assistant Superintendent Andy True, vape detectors have been installed in the bathrooms of Dobyns Bennett High School.
True says the school district plans to continue the random drug testing for the upcoming school year.
