1,410 students have taken drugs, says ministry
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A TOTAL of 1,410 school students have tested positive for drugs up until July this year, the Education Ministry said.
The number represents 0.03% out of 4.7 million students nationwide, whereby almost 76% of them were found to have taken methamphetamine.
“The breakdown according to type of drug is 75.68% (1,067 students) methamphetamine, 16.73% (235 students) ganja, 5.17% (72 students) opioids, 2.23% (31 students) and 0.19% (2 students) ketamine,” said Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon in Parliament in reply to Dr Mariah Mahmud (PAS-Kota Raja).
Dr Mariah had asked for statistics of students involved with drugs as well as steps taken to curb the problem.
The ministry however did not give details on the students’ ages.
Dr Mariah said although the figures showed a small fraction of students involved with drugs, police investigation into the matter was on the rise.
In a follow-up question, she asked how the ministry deals with students who test positive for drugs.
Chong said the students are given counseling for three months, after which a repeat urine test is conducted.
However, he said the urine test is only conducted for high-risk students and is done by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).
“The ministry has no allocation (for drug testing). So we only identify high-risk groups. To test all students would incur high costs as it involves 4.7 million students.
“It would also negatively affect students, (taking into account) parents’ objection,” he said.
Chong added the government has implemented efforts to curb the drug menace among students since 1986. – November 13, 2017.