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Survey of DATIA Members Indicates Increase in Student Drug Testing Programs


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura E. Shelton
DATIA, Executive Director
800-355-1257

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Alexandria, VA, October 11, 2002: The Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) recently surveyed its members to determine the extent of increased student drug testing by schools across the nation in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding drug testing of students in extracurricular activities. While the association expected to see an increase in student testing programs of 5% over the first year, the survey responses account for a much higher increase.

Of the 137 drug and alcohol testing providers that completed the survey, 102 indicated that they have acquired no new schools implementing drug-testing programs or serve only the workplace drug testing market. With an estimated 500 schools administering random student drug testing programs prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, the 35 drug and alcohol testing providers who responded to DATIA that they have seen an increase in student drug testing through new and existing clients since the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 27, 2002 account for a 10% increase in testing. The breakdown of the results is as follows.

Since June 27, 2002:

  • 23 schools have implemented new student drug testing programs
  • 25 schools have re-implemented student drug testing programs that were on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision
  • 33 schools are in the process of developing a new student drug testing program to be implemented
  • 60 schools have contacted drug and alcohol testing providers to begin investigating the option of developing a testing program
  • 8 schools have expanded their testing programs to include extracurricular participants
  • 9 schools have expanded their testing programs to include student drivers
  • 2 schools have expanded their testing programs to include all students

While these numbers may seem small, the implication is that student drug testing programs are increasingly being considered school administrators across the nation as an effective deterrent to drug use by students. Considering the small number of survey participants, it seems apparent that interest in student drug testing is gaining momentum faster than expected. Laura Shelton, Executive Director stated “I am pleased with the implications of the survey; to see that such a small number of drug and alcohol testing providers can account for a 10% increase in student drug testing programs just three months after the Supreme Court’s ruling is evidence that the public’s support of student drug testing has substantially increased. The increase over the years will be similar to that of workplace testing - - as more and more schools implement programs, those without programs will see the benefits of drug and alcohol testing in other schools and implement programs within their schools as well. At this point, I don’t see that all schools will eventually implement a program, but I do see that in the future the vast majority of schools will.”
DATIA was founded in 1995 and has grown to represent over 1,100 members from all facets of the drug and alcohol testing industry. DATIA works closely with key policy makers in Federal Agencies and in Congress to ensure that the interests of the industry are heard and taken into account when changes are proposed involving drug and alcohol testing rules. DATIA further works to educate the industry on current standards of service and regulatory policies and procedures. For complete information on the association and DATIA’s complete letter to HHS, visit www.datia.org.