In today’s tough economic times, companies and other entities are looking to trim as much excess spending as possible.

One program which could have its budget cut or eliminated is the drug testing of student athletes at Richmond Senior High School.

While the N.C. High School Athletic Association does not require its members to drug test student athletes, a member of the Richmond County School Board believes it is money well spent.

According to Ashley Simmons, Public Information Officer for Richmond County Schools, the district has spent $5,152 this school year on drug testing student athletes at Richmond Senior High School. The funding for the drug testing comes from the RCS Central Office, not the athletic department.

RSHS Athletic Director Hal Shuler said only four student athletes each year have had a positive drug test out of the nearly 1,000 performed in the two years the program has been active.

Shuler added approximately 40 to 50 students are selected each month to be drug tested, which means only one out of every 125 drug tests or 0.8 percent result in a student testing positive.

If 50 students are drug tested a month, and the school year lasts around 10 months, then 500 drug tests will be performed. The cost is about $10.30 per screening or $1,287.50 before a positive test.

“In my opinion, I believe this is money well spent,” Richmond County School Board member Tom McInnis said. “This (drug testing) is a deterrent.”

Fellow school board member Pam Easterling agreed with McInnis that the money spent on drug testing is a wise investment.

“We are stretched, but we also live in a society where young people are running rampant when it comes to drugs,” Easterling said. “They are dealing and using not only in high school, but middle school and even in elementary school.”

McInnis added he believes the low of number of positive drug tests at the school is a result of the current policy.

“If we didn’t do this, based on national statistics, there would be a greater number of student athletes doing drugs,” McInnis said. “We have to send the kids a strong message about doing drugs.”

Easterling added drugs could be a problem not only with student athletes but the student body as a whole.

“Drug testing keeps them in check,” Easterling said. “It is easy for a student to get drugs now. And drugs effects everyone on the socio-economic pole, from the low-income to the ones on the high end of the pole.”

McInnis admits he would prefer to have the entire student body randomly tested for drugs, but feels since a student athlete represents RSHS and Richmond County, they have to be accountable for their actions.

“If it were up to me, I would drug test everybody,” McInnis said. “Athletes are held to a higher standard. I’m not saying that’s good or bad, but we hold them to that higher standard.”

If a student athlete is randomly selected, they must complete the drug test or face suspension from athletic participation.

The Athletic Participation Policy states, “A student refusing to be tested after being randomly selected or after being directed to do so following an excused absence will be suspended from athletic participation and lose his/her eligibility for athletic participation for the duration of the current school year.”

McInnis likens this policy to having a person apply for a job with his company.

“Drugs are illegal, there’s no place on a job application that you can fill out that says drugs will help me in my job,” McInnis said. “We aren’t asking them to do anything they aren’t going to face in the world. Every job I know of now requires you to take a drug test.”