Random Drug Test for High School Students Set in March

Random drug test for high school students set in March
01/15/2009

The random drug test for both public and private high school students will kick off by March, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus confirmed yesterday.

He explained though not all students will be subjected to the drug test because it will be done on a random basis.

But, all secondary schools across the country are mandated to comply with the President’s directive.

“Ang utos ng Presidente ngayon lahat ay magpapatupad ng random drug testing, not all students will be tested pero lahat ng schools magpapatupad,” Lapus said.

Students found positive for drug use during the random drug testing will have to undergo another round of drug testing for confirmation as well as to determine the level of drug dependency or addiction.

“Yung mag pa-positive sa random drug testing magre-retest ulit para sigurado,” Lapus said, stressing the random drug testing will be conducted by the Department of Health (DoH)-accredited laboratories.

He added this will not be a ground for expulsion and the DoH is expected to provide counseling to help student “kick out” the addiction.

Lapus also stressed the random drug test in schools is not new and in fact provided under Republic Act 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act.

The DepEd actually conducted a random drug tests in 2003 to 2005 after study showed that drug use in six regions of the country, including the National Capital Region, increase by 10 percent.

In 2004, the DepEd, through its Health and Nutrition Center, also conducted drug testing of high school students in 17 randomly selected schools in each region to determine the prevalence of drug users among students.

During the test which was conducted on 8,760 students only 15 students tested positive.

This indicates a 1.3 percentage in drug users among students, but only 0.8 percent tested positive in the confirmation testing.

Under the order of President Arroyo, 30 from each of the 6,000 high schools nationwide will undergo a drug test.

This means that 180,000 high school students will undergo the drug test.

The DepEd would also shoulder the expenses.

Lapus said if a student is found positive for drugs, he or she is required to go through a confirmation testing.

Students found positive are then subjected to counseling which is kept confidential. Those who are found to be deeply into drugs are sent to rehabilitation centers.

“Ang ating intensyon dito ay unang una hindi naman hihiyain ang estudyante. Very strict ang confidentiality (Our intention is not to humiliate the students. We are very strict about confidentiality),” Lapus said.

He added during the last drug testing, 1.3 percent of students tested were found positive for drug use in the initial tests, but only 0.8 percent tested positive in the confirmation testing.

The DepEd chief assured the public testing positive for drug use is not ground for expulsion but only for disciplinary action.

He said random drug testing will serve as a deterrent for students who are influenced by their peers into taking illegal drugs.

The Commission on Higher Education, for its part, earlier had asked university heads to arrange random drug tests with the DoH among college students to ensure a drug-free campus.

Jason Faustino