Pubdate: Tue, 13 Jul 2004
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 People's Journal
Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp
Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381
Author:  Allan Bergonia, People's Journal

RANDOM DRUG TESTS IN MINDANAO SCHOOLS

THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday subjected to random drug 
testing secondary students in public and private schools in Southern 
Mindanao (Region XI).

DepEd School Health and Nutrition Center (SHNC) Director Thelma Santos and 
Undersecretary Ramon Bacani carried out the drug testing with Department of 
Health (DoH) personnel.

Under the program, selected public and private high schools in the region 
are required to undergo the test with about 30 students randomly selected 
from each school. A total of 17 schools are included in the test.

Bacani said the program is pursuant to R.A. 9165 or the "Comprehensive 
Dangerous Drug Act of 2002" which mandates the random drug testing of 
students in public and private secondary, tertiary, higher educational 
institutions and vocational-technical schools.

Santos said the program has five objectives: to determine the prevalence of 
drug users among the students; to assess the effectivity of school-based 
and community-based prevention programs; to prevent the use of illegal 
drugs; to facilitate the rehabilitation of drug users and dependents, and 
to strengthen the collaboration of agencies in the rehabilitation of drug 
dependents.

Under the program, the results of the test shall be strictly confidential. 
No school shall publish the results whether positive or negative.

Santos said if the results are positive during the initial and confirmatory 
drug test, the students to government or DoH-accredited hospitals to 
determine the student's dependency level.

If the students are found dependent, the school may impose the appropriate 
sanction against them based on the school regulation. The students shall 
undergo a three-month observation and counseling period.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D