Pubdate: Wed, 13 Apr 2005
Source: Freeman, The (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 The Freeman
Contact:  http://www.thefreeman.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3437
Author: Jasmin R. Uy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

21 OUT OF 495 SECONDARY STUDES IN CV FAIL DRUG TEST

Twenty one out of 495 students in 17 Central Visayas secondary schools
tested positive of drugs during a random drug test conducted by DepED
through its School Health and Nutrition Center (SHNC)and the
Department of Health last October.

Although DepED declined to mention the students' names along with
their respective schools, DepED Regional Director Carolino Mordeno
said they will be subjected to a confirmatory test and may undergo
counseling and medication.

In the records bared by the DepEd Central Office on the number of
students who tested positive in the test, the National Capital Region
had 4, Caraga Region, 19, Region X, 14, and Region III with 3.

SHNC Director Thelma Santos said that based on the generalized data,
there is a working prevalence of 10 percent of drug use in the
secondary schools in these regions.

She said DOH is trying to get the prevalence for each school to
determine the level of drug problem where they would focus on prevention.

The implementation of the random drug testing of students in public
and private secondary, tertiary/higher educational institutions and
vocational-technical schools is pursuant to Section 36 (c) of Article
III of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the "Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002."

This program seeks to determine the prevalence of drug users among the
students; assess the effectivity of school-based and community-based
prevention programs; and rehabilitation of drug users and dependents.

Meanwhile, the DepED-SHNC has been conducting random drug testing on
students of secondary schools in other regions such as Regions I, II,
IV, CAR, V, VI, VII, IX, and ARMM. 
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