The Department of Health (DOH), with the Department of Education (DepEd), announced that it is set to implement the second round of nationwide random drug testing among high school students this February.
“As in the previous testing done, the activity aims to determine the current incidence of drug use, provide a deterrent for those using drugs and to provide the necessary services they need to stop further use,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III declared.
In 2007, random drug testing was done for tertiary level students. Out of 7,499 college level students tested, 39 (0.5%) were confirmed to be using dangerous drugs.
Four years ago, 8,670 high school students were randomly tested. About 67 (0.80%) were confirmed to be using dangerous drugs. In both cases, marijuana (cannabis) is the drug of choice of majority of the students. Outpatient services were provided to the above-mentioned students.
Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No 6, 2003 provides the guidelines for the conduct of the activity. It explicitly states that results of drug testing cannot be used in any criminal proceedings and that the strictest confidentiality shall be observed in handling these records. Furthermore, results shall not be used as grounds for any disciplinary action nor expulsion.
“As far as the Department of Health is concerned, drug testing is a health issue”, said Duque. He added that, “What needs to be done is that these children be tested and provided rehabilitation services.”
The President directed both the DOH and DepEd to visit all schools for the activity. An estimated 85,000 students will be randomly selected and tested.
In a related concern, the Department of Health revealed that it is using state-of-the-art technologies to safeguard the integrity of drug-related data through the Integrated Drug Test Operations Management Information System. The system to curb dishonest practices on drug testing; effectively regulate the operations of drug test laboratories and drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers; and provide timely and relevant information for decision and policy making.
In 2006, out of the 3,426,980 individuals who underwent drug testing, 1,398 (0.04%) of them were confirmed to be using either marijuana or shabu (methampetamine). The figure remained the same in 2007 at 2,314 (0.06%), out of 4,075,048 drug tested.
End beneficiary agencies like the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police need only to interconnect and tap the system to verify validity of the drug testing results.
Photo byWeng Bunoan
“As in the previous testing done, the activity aims to determine the current incidence of drug use, provide a deterrent for those using drugs and to provide the necessary services they need to stop further use,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III declared.
In 2007, random drug testing was done for tertiary level students. Out of 7,499 college level students tested, 39 (0.5%) were confirmed to be using dangerous drugs.
Four years ago, 8,670 high school students were randomly tested. About 67 (0.80%) were confirmed to be using dangerous drugs. In both cases, marijuana (cannabis) is the drug of choice of majority of the students. Outpatient services were provided to the above-mentioned students.
Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No 6, 2003 provides the guidelines for the conduct of the activity. It explicitly states that results of drug testing cannot be used in any criminal proceedings and that the strictest confidentiality shall be observed in handling these records. Furthermore, results shall not be used as grounds for any disciplinary action nor expulsion.
“As far as the Department of Health is concerned, drug testing is a health issue”, said Duque. He added that, “What needs to be done is that these children be tested and provided rehabilitation services.”
The President directed both the DOH and DepEd to visit all schools for the activity. An estimated 85,000 students will be randomly selected and tested.
In a related concern, the Department of Health revealed that it is using state-of-the-art technologies to safeguard the integrity of drug-related data through the Integrated Drug Test Operations Management Information System. The system to curb dishonest practices on drug testing; effectively regulate the operations of drug test laboratories and drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers; and provide timely and relevant information for decision and policy making.
In 2006, out of the 3,426,980 individuals who underwent drug testing, 1,398 (0.04%) of them were confirmed to be using either marijuana or shabu (methampetamine). The figure remained the same in 2007 at 2,314 (0.06%), out of 4,075,048 drug tested.
End beneficiary agencies like the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police need only to interconnect and tap the system to verify validity of the drug testing results.
Photo byWeng Bunoan