Tuesday, June 27, 2006

‘Drug tests to remain private’

By Jonathan M. Hicap, Reporter

THE Commission on Higher Education on Monday assured college students of the confidentiality of the results of the random drug tests it planned to conduct soon.
The commission, which is enforcing the program this school year, said the results—whether negative or positive—will not be made public. It said only the students concerned and their parents would be informed about the outcomes.
Students who refuse the test will be sanctioned, the commission said, although it declined to say what the penalties would be.
Students found positive of drug use in the initial and confirmatory tests will be required to go through a three-month observation and counseling program supervised by the Department of Health.
The commission said in no case would the result be used as basis for expulsion.
Originally scheduled in 2003, the random drug tests were dropped for lack of funds. This year, however, the government released, through the health department, P1.5 million for the purpose.
In April representatives from the National Youth Commission, National Antipoverty Commission, student sector and colleges agreed to carry out the tests.
Under Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, high-school and college students are required to have random drug tests.
The guideline requires that the commission and the Dangerous Drugs Board shall notify the college or university whose students are to be tested. The students will be selected through a lottery, and the test conducted that very same day.
To ensure the accuracy of the test, the student will be asked to reveal the medicines, vitamins and food supplements he or she has taken in the last five days.