Drugs are a significant barrier to learning, and the use of drugs by even a small number of students can affect the entire atmosphere of a school. Recognizing this, many administrators, parents, and students appreciate having a tool as powerful as student drug testing available as an additional component in their school?s comprehensive drug and alcohol prevention and early intervention program. Drug testing may not always be the solution to drug use by young people, nor is it right for every school. But for those schools that have determined that drug use is a significant problem and that testing is an appropriate response, it is important to keep in mind that the purpose is not to punish students who use drugs. The goals are to deter nonusing students from ever using drugs, to encourage nondependent users to stop before they get into more serious trouble with drugs or encourage others to follow suit, and to identify those who need early intervention, recovery support, and/or clinical treatment services.