For centuries society has been and still is built on rules and laws. Rules and laws are the reason why society is kept in order. In companies, restaurants, school, and all over the United States there are rules that are put in place to work for the good of society but, are they always good? Take the zero tolerance policy for instance it was put in place with good intentions. The policy is suppose to get rid of drugs from schools to protect the students that come to school to better their education but now that the policy is in effect the situation became more complicated then before. Students are not just being suspended for illegal drugs but for any kind of drug including some kinds of candy. When school boards said schools had a drug problem it did not mean candy or over the counter drugs. The zero tolerance policy has good intentions but the problem is that it was poorly thought out and caused more bad effects then good.
The zero-tolerance policy was originally put in place for the good of the students all over the United States. It was supposed to make a drug free environment by getting rid of students that come to school to use and deal drugs. At first, it was effective and there was a lower number of drugs then before, but it left side effects that are probably worse then the problem. One of the reasons why the policy causes complications is its failure to define drugs. The Brown University Digest of Addiction theory & Application also believes that "The ineffectiveness of the zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs is tied to the fact that it fails to distinguish among drugs as well as between the use and abuse of drugs"(Brown Univ.) obviously the purpose of the policy was to get rid of illegal drugs and alcohol from schools; illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, crack, ecstasy, and many others. Apparently to some people it was not obvious because, there are students that have been suspended and expelled from school for possession of other types of drugs such as " Midol, Tylenol, Alka Seltezer, cough drops and Scope mouthwash"(Cauchon).
