The Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) is willing to conduct random drug tests in public high schools.
Cosap chief Alice Utlang welcomed a City Council resolution asking her office to conduct the tests. She said this was already discussed in the Cebu Anti-drug Abuse Council.
However, Mayor Michael Rama isn’t keen on the idea and said the tests may not be necessary.
“We already know there are drug problems and that it exists even among the high school students. It should not just be testing. Action has to be done,” Rama said.
Drug testing in public schools? Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) may conduct random drug tests in public high school. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
He said he’s been instructing the police to identify drug lords and areas that are possible mobile drug laboratories.
“If there is no source, there will be no buyers,” Rama added.
The mayor, however, is not totally opposed to the idea.
According to Utlang, the mayor wanted them to complete the drug testing of barangay officials and employees before they proceed to random drug testing of public school students.
Cosap has adequate resources for the school-based drug testing, she said.
Cosap will start preparing for the next stage and will meet school officials, parents and students themselves.
She assured that the tests and their results would not be announced.
Those who volunteer to take the test will not be named.
According to the Dangerous Drugs Act, said Utlang, said conducting random drug tests in schools is needed to determine the prevalence of drug use among students and assess the effectivity of school-based and community-based prevention programs.
It’s also important to facilitate rehabilitation of the users and to strengthen collaborative efforts among different concerned agencies.
The City Council approved the resolution sponsored by Councilor Noel Wenceslao requesting Cosap to conduct random drug testing among high on high school students.
The resolution noted that there has been an increase in the city’s crime rate which includes youths engaging in illegal drug use.
There were reports of high school students hooked on illegal drugs.
“The present situation dictates legislative intervention, thus random testing of secondary students in schools within Cebu City is a means in eradicating illegal drug use among the youth, and in achieving a drug-free learning environment,” said Wenceslao, who heads the committee on education.
‘I want the source’
Utlang said she earlier briefed the mayor about the plan and that the mayor was amenable but said they had to complete the drug testing on barangay officials first.
However, when Rama was sought for comment, he did not seem keen on the proposal to have students tested.