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