2017 Brings Random Drug Testing To A Local Middle School

There will be a number of new laws, rules, and regulations going into effect in the new year. One of those will be the start of random drug testing at an Ocean County middle school.

Parents in Lacey Township received a letter from the middle school's principal announcing the start of the program two weeks ago.

The upcoming program was actually agreed upon at a school board meeting this past summer, and is voluntary.

Parents must agree to the testing and will be required to fill out a permission slip to enroll their 7th and 8th graders in the program.

According to NJ.com,

For a first test result that is positive, a student is not permitted to participate or attend any interscholastic athletic activity or extracurricular activity for 10 school days, according to the policy. The student would have to be examined by a medical doctor and have four successful counseling sessions with the school's student assistance coordinator, the policy says. The student would also have to agree to four scheduled drug or alcohol tests in the following 12 months.

What do you think, is 12 and 13 too young to subject students to random drug testing, or is early intervention the best way to prevent possible addiction? Weigh in on the comments section below.