Should high school athletes be drug tested?

It might encourage use of more dangerous substances

Question: Should high school athletes be drug tested?
Position‹2 of 2: No, high school athletes should not be drug tested
Argument1 of 3›: It might encourage use of more dangerous substances

Drugs that show up on school drug tests are less dangerous and associated with very low mortality rates. But, if a student is aware of their school's drug testing policy, they may seek out drugs and substances that will go undetected. These are often substances far more lethal and dangerous.

The argument

Schools should not drug test their high school athletes because the policy may lead to unintended consequences. A drug testing policy may drive students to use far more dangerous drugs and substances that are less detectable by a drug test. Because marijuana is the most detectable drug, with traces of THC remaining in the body for weeks, students may take drugs that exit the body quickly, like methamphetamine, MDMA, or inhalants. Moreover, knowing alcohol is less detectable, they may also engage in binge drinking, creating health and safety risks for students and the community as a whole. Drug testing high school athletes might encourage the switch from drugs that are less associated with morbidity and mortality, like marijuana, to drugs that can have consequences closer to death.

Premises

[P1]Because marijuana is the most detectable drug, remaining in the body for weeks, drug testing may push athletes toward substances that clear the body quickly — like methamphetamine, MDMA or inhalants — or toward binge drinking. [P2] This trades a drug less associated with death for far more dangerous ones, creating greater health and safety risks for students and the community. [C] Because it might encourage the use of more dangerous substances, high school athletes should not be drug tested.

Counter-arguments

High school athletes should be drug tested by their schools. If there are students that are willing to turn to far more dangerous substances because they are less detectable, it is likely that they already have problems with drug use with more moderate drugs like marijuana. The randomness of high school drug testing can still catch and get these students the help, treatment, and intervention they need. However, choosing not to drug-test at all does not help to accomplish that goal. Moreover, instead of turning to more dangerous drugs or substances, many students may choose to forgo drugs altogether, afraid of punishment. Drug testing high school athletes is a way to potentially reduce drug use in schools and quickly intervene on behalf of students who need help.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] The substitution is a possibility the argument never evidences. Detection windows do differ, but the substances named are not interchangeable with cannabis in effect, cost or availability, and the premise assumes students choose drugs primarily by how long they remain detectable. [Rejecting P2] The comparison is incomplete on its own terms, weighing a hypothetical shift toward more harmful substances against the assumption that testing deters nothing at all. The same policy may deter use outright or identify students who need help — and if some are already willing to move to methamphetamine or inhalants to evade a test, that is a reason for intervention rather than for declining to look.