Are drug tests in public schools really appropriate? Mandatory random drug testing for students (MRSDT) and random no-suspicion drug testing (SRDT) in schools are two of many approaches that school districts could use to help prevent and reduce rates of drug and substance use (James- Burdumy 1). The MRSDT was introduced in the late 1980s as the U.S. Army created other programs to control substance use (James-Burdumy 1; Russell 169). The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) program sponsors and supports random drug testing in public schools as a way to combat high rates of substance use among adolescents (James-Burdumy 2). For example, in a recent study report it was stated that 27% of students reported drinking alcohol, 13% reported smoking cigarettes, and 15% reported using marijuana in the past 30 days (Sznitman 146). These facts are the cold, hard truth; furthermore, students have a higher rate of drug use than when studying for a test in school (Sznitman 146). On the other hand, every point of view can reach agreement that all drug rates in the United States are increasing dramatically. Drug programs already exist in public schools. Students will feel safer and perform better academically without the presence of drugs (Russell 170). While random and mandatory drug testing in schools might lower the rate of drug use in our communities, it might create destructive and disrespectful teenagers (Barrington 49; Russell 168). truly appropriate in today's public schools (Evans 452). Based on the results of the national survey, no significant differences were found in the drug... half of the document ......ood.edu/pdf9/pdf/2009/JOS/01Apr09/36857599.pdf?T=P&P= AN&K=36857599&S=R&D=a9h&EbscoContent=dGJ yMNLe80SeprQ4y9fwOLCmr0yep7JSr624S66WxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMK6vsEW2pq5T69fnhrnb5ofx6gAA>.Russell, Brenda L., Brian Jennings and She rry Classey. “Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Random Drug Testing in Schools.” Journal of Drug Education 35.3 (2005): 167-184. ERIC. Network. February 25, 2014. Sznitman, Sharon et al. “Student Drug Testing in the Context of Positive and Negative School Climates: Results from a National Survey.” Journal of Youth & Adolescent 41.2 (2012): 146-155. SocINDEX with full text. Network. February 25. 2014. .