Pubdate: Thu, 30 Mar 2006
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Jefferson Antiporda
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

'DRUG TESTS FOR DRIVERS DEFICIENT'

THAT reckless driver on the road might be a drug addict and you may
not even know it, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

In a press briefing at the Land Transportation Office, Health
Undersecretary Jade del Mundo said testing centers assigned by the
department for drivers renewing their licenses do not have the kits to
detect banned drugs.

Among the drugs that the kits are unable to trace are ketamine,
ecstasy, heroin and shabu.

The department is trying to improve the test devices so they can
detect more drugs, del Mundo said.

"I have directed the Research Institute for Medicine to produce the
drug testing kits so that we lower the cost and expand their
capability," he added.

Del Mundo said he high cost of the sophisticated test kits, which are
imported, was one reason why the department is using the current models.

Testing centers use kits that can identify illegal drugs, such as
marijuana and methamphetamines, among the commonly abused drugs.

The transportation office and the health department recently signed a
memorandum of agreement to share data on drug-testing procedures and
on the results obtained by the test centers.

Results released by a test center are sent the transportation office's
database through the Internet, an agency spokesman said.

"With this system we can further ensure that all results taken from
more than 1,000 accredited test centers are correct and unchanged," he
said.

The health department has lowered the cost of drug tests from P200 to
P180, at least 50 percent cheaper than those charged by accredited
private testing centers. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Tom