EDITORIAL - Mark of the drug abuser

At best, the plan to conduct random drug tests on students in both public and private schools will serve as a deterrent to drug abuse. At worst, it will mark for life certain students as abusers, including those for whom experimenting with drugs may just be a fleeting phase of teenage life, without addressing the root causes of their drug problem. The government had previously attempted to conduct drug tests in schools but was stopped by human rights advocates. A similar challenge may be raised once the tests get underway.

If the plan pushes through, special care must be taken to protect the privacy of students, abuser or not. The drug problem is complex and requires waging war on several fronts. Law enforcers should focus on catching drug dealers, particularly the large-scale operators who manufacture or smuggle the current drugs of choice such as shabu, ecstasy and ketamine. Anti-narcotics agents can also coordinate with school authorities to catch pushers who prey on students.

A number of the most heinous crimes perpetrated in the country in recent years were committed by people high on drugs. Traffickers deserve to be locked up for the menace posed to society by drug abuse. But there are pushers who deserve to be saved, together with the abusers. For this they need rehabilitation facilities. But such facilities are inadequate in this country even for those who can afford it. Local governments can build such facilities, especially for youths in depressed communities.

Drug abuse among students often has its roots in problems at home. Even if random drug testing identifies a drug abuser, the problem can only be addressed properly with the participation of the family. Teachers, guidance counselors and religious workers can be called in for help, but the heaviest lifting will have to be done by those closest to the drug abuser.