POSITION PAPER

Committee: STEC Junior Police Senior High School Division

Topic: Random Drug Testing in Public and Private Secondary Schools

Country: Philippines

Delegate: Zedec Pacaldo, Science and Technology Education Center

*The following was written based on DO 40, s. 2017 - Guidelines for the Conduct of Random Drug Testing in Public and Private Secondary Schools

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A Move in the War Through Small Scale Preventions

With ex-mayor of Davao, Rodrigo Duterte recently gaining the position as president of the Philippines, the country has been put in a constant war against drugs initiated by our president.  He won by promising to eradicate criminals from the Philippines as his main propaganda, and he definitely went with his word. His next step is to assess whether the future generations have become dependent on drugs as well. DepEd Order no. 40, s.2017 was made for the sole purpose of checking on the youth. This D.O. can prove to be an effective way of keeping the youth safe from the harm of using drugs, abuse, and dependency as long as the guidelines established are met and followed. 

D.O. 40 also known as the Random Drug Testing in Public and Private Secondary Schools, can assist the country in its war against drugs. The demographic chosen for the drug testing compose a vast majority of the country’s population; they are also easily swayed by peer pressure and the likes. It would not be much of a surprise to find that there are a few if not many, of these said secondary school students who have consumed drugs. 

This DepEd order not only gives awareness to the dangers of drugs but insight on how they are to deal with their possible drug-dependence if ever they have developed one. In an article from Inquirer concerned with said DepEd order, Roxas(2017) mentions that a regular or special parent-teacher conference will be conducted to explain the drug test before the actual test. Students who will be tested will also be oriented prior to the actual tests. 

However, people still raise concerns about the D.O.; ethical issues such as confidentiality and the safety of their children. This would not be the actual case, as the D.O. puts emphasis on the privacy and integrity of the students. For instance, the date of the actual testing would not be announced to keep the students from being too worried and to avoid drawing too much attention. All results will be collected and transferred to the Department of Health. After 15 days, DOH will have the results ready. Whether they be positive or negative, all results will remain confidential between the student, parents, and the drug coordinator. However, all positive results will be subjected to further analysis. The results of the tests cannot be used to expel the student from school nor will it be used in court against the student. 

The efforts of the D.O. do not stop there. For every student who tests positive, the drug coordinator will set up a conference involving said student, parents, and a certified DOH physician. In this conference, issues concerning drug abuse and dependence will be discussed. If the student is affirmed to be drug-dependent, the student will be referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development or the parents may opt for a private rehabilitation center. 

If said guidelines explained in the D.O. will be followed in every testing, ethical issues concerning confidentiality and privacy should not be a problem, provided that the student and parents themselves follow the guidelines as well. Data gathered from the tests will be used for further assessment of the prevalence of drug users among students. This, in turn, can help in the prevention and rehabilitation of a part of the population that may subject themselves to the influence of drug if ever the opportunity is there to taunt them.

ZEDEC PACALDO

XI - STEM MENDELEEV