Urine test in govt colleges to detect drug abuse among students

In a major step towards curbing the rising drug menace among the youth in the state, the Department of Education, following the suggestions from the state CID, has directed the principals of all the government colleges within the state to introduce urine-based drug testing kits, to ensure early detection of drug abuse among students. With these kits, the authorities will be able to easily detect whether any student is under the influence of any kind of drugs.

A letter regarding this has been issued by the Joint Director of Higher Education, in which principals have been directed to discuss this during the Parent Teachers Meeting (PTA).

The step came after the suggestion of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), CID, Gyaneshwar Singh, who, in a letter to the Director of Higher Education and to the Director of School Education, had suggested them to use a urine-based drug testing kits in the schools.

Singh, in the letter had shed light on the current scenario of drug abuse in the state which, he mentioned, requires urgent preventive measure. He mentioned that the youth of the state have been affected by the drug abuse and even schoolchildren have been found to be addicted to various kinds of drugs.

He suggested that the use of urine-based rapid drug testing kits in schools will serve as a useful tool for early identification of affected students and timely intervention, thus eradicate drug abuse from the state.

“The state CID has already procured rapid urine-based drug testing kits Insight DOA Panel 6.1, manufactured by Tulip Diagnostics (P) Ltd for field-level use. These multi-pane! kits are capable of detecting multiple commonly abused drugs and provide quick results, which makes them suitable for deployment in school and colleges under proper protocols and supervision” stated the ADGP.

He further mentioned that this measure was intended to support the ongoing efforts to create a drug-free environment in educational institutions and to protect the future of the children.