Thursday, January 22, 2009

Drugs and drug tests

Random drug test for high school students?

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo along side government agencies such as the Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Dangerous Drugs Board release a decree ordering a random drug test for students in the secondary level.

Now, am I not lucky?

Kidding aside. The order caused a big fuss all over the country. 

Some agreed. Some violently commented. Some remained silent.

According to the Commission of Human Rights, such order is a violation to human rights, and thus, it shouldn't be implemented. 

However, according to the Department of Education, this is not a compulsory and parents will also be involved in the process. A waiver will be signed by both parties, asking their [parents] permission to allow their child or children to be tested.

Personally, I am torn, whether or not I should support this move by the government. 

I disagree. Clearly, this is a violation of human rights - our right to privacy. Being the implementing body, the government should at all times respect this right. 

I agree, however, since this would be of great help especially to those students who are involved with illegal drugs. 

But, wouldn't this create a stigma and detrimental on our country's part?

So what if a bunch of students are positive of illegal drug usage? Wouldn't it be a shame for other countries to know that our high school students are using these drugs?

Think again.

It might be the best for us. But for us alone.

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