School district near Ardmore to begin student drug and alcohol testing

Wednesday, May 11th 2005, 12:52 pm

By: News On 6

ARDMORE, Okla. (AP) -- The Dickson school district is adopting a drug- and alcohol-testing policy beginning this fall for students who take part in extracurricular activities.

Students in grades seven through 12 who want to participate in sports or other school activities during the 2005-2006 school year must provide a urine sample for testing. Students may also be tested for performance enhancing drugs such as steroids if an administrator has "reasonable suspicion" a student is using the drugs.

The district will pay the estimated $10,000 to $12,000 for the testing, but students who test positive will tested every nine weeks and must pay $35 for each additional test.

Students who test positive must attend drug counseling, but won't be suspended from school or suffer academic sanctions for testing positive and all positive test results will be kept confidential.

Students may also be tested for performance enhancing drugs such as steroids if an administrator has "reasonable suspicion" a student is using the drugs.