Zero tolerance policies for alcohol and drug use are common in the United States. Federal laws administer zero tolerance against drinking under the age of 21 and using illegal drugs. However, more local rules and regulations are causing bigger problems. Zero tolerance policies are a recent trend in the nation’s school systems, and they are often ridiculously illogical and unfair. Over-zealous administrators and teachers hand out harsh consequences for actions that they claim fall under their extremely loose definitions of drug and alcohol abuse.
Examples of the ineffectiveness and unreasonable nature of zero tolerance policies are rampant. Students are frequently suspended from school for drug abuse when they are caught taking a Tylenol that their parents sent with them for a headache. Carter Loar was suspended from his Virginia high school for ten days because he used mouthwash at school, which usually contains a small amount of alcohol. One middle school student was suspended for giving his French teacher a gift of French wine. The idea that these things could be seen as a form of alcohol abuse is ridiculous.
Evidence shows that, like the scare tactics used in drug education programs such as D.A.R.E., zero tolerance policies are not effective. They do nothing to reduce the rates of alcohol and drug abuse among young people in the United States. Yet, responsible teenagers continue to be punished unfairly for actions that will never lead to addiction or cause the serious consequences which are associated with true alcohol and drug abuse. Honor students are kicked out of school and banned from taking advanced classes.
Many of these students are required to attend addiction treatment and education programs for their “offenses”. However, addiction treatment programs could be much better used for people who actually need them. Accusing innocent youth of crimes sends the wrong message and can foster mistrust of adults and authority figures. Punishment and rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction should be reserved for individuals who truly have a problem.