STUDENTS FACE URINE TESTING

Thailand is to carry out mandatory drug testing of school and university
students as part of the Government's "war on drugs" strategy.

The planned urine testing, requiring parental consent, is being proposed by
Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun. A recent survey by Bangkok's
Assumption University estimated 6.2 per cent, or 374,600 students, aged 11
to 24 were involved with drugs "to some extent", mainly amphetamines and
marijuana. Around 700 million amphetamine tablets enter the country a year
from factories in neighbouring Burma and Laos.

Mr Purachai, who is leading a government campaign to curb under-age
drinking and drug abuse, said urine tests should be conducted nationwide
and students with an addiction should be referred to rehabilitation clinics.

He said details on how the program will be carried out would be decided
later this month.

UN Drug Control Program regional director Wayne Bazant said there were
indications drug use was increasing among adolescent Thais.

"Over the past few years the situation has gotten worse from our
perspective," he said.