A random drug test will be conducted among college students by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) starting February next year to gauge the problem of drug addiction among the youth.
Dr. Jade del Mundo, DOH undersecretary for public health, however noted the program is not meant to condemn those who are into drugs.
"Those who will be tested positive for drug use will be submitted for counseling. We hope to address the problem among students as soon as possible," Del Mundo said in an interview.
The DOH and DepEd started the program two years ago by conducting drug tests among randomly selected high school students nationwide.
The program is explained properly in school to prevent students from being traumatized in case they are selected.
The identities of those tested positive are being kept confidential but they will be encouraged to seek rehabilitation or counseling, depending on the gravity of their addiction.
For the college level, Del Mundo said 13 colleges from each region in the country will be chosen for the program. And in each school, 350 students will be randomly selected for drug test.
Aside from aiming to determine the extent of drug addiction in schools, Del Mundo said that through this program, they also intend to come up with appropriate strategies that will stop substance abuse before students become hooked to the vice.