Disclaimer: I am an athlete and I do not use drugs. But there are many athletes who do. According to an article from FoxSports, an athlete is suspended for using recreational drugs approximately once a week.

The use of recreational drugs is extremely common in the United States today, especially on college campuses. The NCAA provides drug education programs and requires random drug testing for its athletes, but Grand View University does not because its athletic governing body, the NAIA, does not require it. Should Grand View test their athletes for recreational drug use? Should anyone?

When I first started writing this article I planned to argue why Grand View needs to start testing their athletes, but as I researched I had trouble convincing myself as to why. I understand testing for performance-enhancing drugs because they give an unfair advantage. But I don’t understand the rationale behind testing athletes for nonperformance-enhancing substances unless it is to prevent the poor image it portrays to children. However, if children don’t see an athlete doing illegal drugs, chances are, they will see someone else in the limelight doing the same thing. An article from the Huffington Post explained that the average age a teenager begins smoking marijuana at approximately 16 years old. That influence is not coming solely from athletes.

If athletes use recreational drugs shouldn’t that be their own risk? The athlete is going to pay the price long-term just like every other person using recreational drugs illegally. Athletes can make the choice to do a variety of things that could hinder their performance such as drink alcohol, use tobacco and eat unhealthy food — all without consequence. So why are recreational drugs the only thing being monitored? Testing athletes for recreational drugs is just putting them on a higher pedestal than society already puts them on.

One argument for testing athletes for recreational drug use is that it is unfair for the athletes to participate in illegal activities when they are on scholarship. But what about the thousands of students on the same campus who have an academic scholarship participating in the same activities: Why aren’t they tested too?

I’m not saying athletes should use drugs or participate in illegal activities. In fact, I think everyone should avoid the use of recreational drugs. But I am questioning why athletes are the only people getting called out for their actions. What about celebrities, artists, and actors? Why is recreational drug testing such an issue within athletics? If athletes want to mess up their future by using drugs, I believe that should be their decision alone. Athletes are in control of their own actions.