GORDON DOUBTS DRUG TESTS IN SCHOOLS HELPFUL

Senator Richard Gordon opposed yesterday the random drug test
program which the government launched last week supposedly to curb
the rampant drug addiction among high school students nationwide.

He said conducting random drug testing among students is not the
best and most effective way of preventing narcotics syndicates from
preying on young people as victims.

"I laud the government for addressing the drug proliferation
problem. However, I do not think that conducting random drug test
among high school students would be very helpful because it would
not deter drug syndicates from victimizing these students," he said.

"It is our responsibility to keep our students absolutely focused
and engaged on academic activities. We should exert all efforts to
ensure that our schools are drug-free by providing them with an
environment conducive to learning," he added.

The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the
Department of Health (DOH) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB),
started the random drug test program last week in about 60 schools
in Metro Manila despite oppositions from various sectors.

The DepEd is set to expand the random drug testing program, which
will cost around R25 million, to Baguio, Cebu, Davao , and Cagayan
De Oro and expects to complete the testing in 8,000 secondary
schools nationwide by November.

However, the DepEd explained that only shabu and marijuana can be
detected from the drug tests it is conducting since it would be too
expensive for the department to purchase kits that can identify
traces of ecstasy and cocaine, which are considered as luxury drugs.

Based on the latest DDB figures, there are about half a million
young people aged fourteen and below who were found out to be using
illegal drugs.

Aside from the random drug test on students, Gordon also disclosed
that he wants Republic Act 9165 (RA 9165) or the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 amended to abolish the mandatory drug
test for drivers.