Russian students to be tested for drugs

The Russian government has submitted to the State Duma a bill that

involves the introduction of social and psychological testing of

students for drug use at schools.

"Under the bill, the early identification of non-medical use of

narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances includes social and

psychological testing of students of educational institutions,

conducted in the manner prescribed by the Ministry of Education,

preventive medical examinations of students of educational

institutions," the documents accompanying the bill read, RIA

Novosti reports.

The document defines the powers of the federal and regional

authorities in the field of drug prevention, non-medical use of

narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as the competence

of educational institutions to ensure early detection of non-medical

drug use among students.

This spring the head of the Federal Service for Drug Control,

Viktor Ivanov, said Russia had started testing students for drug use.That

testing was a voluntary practice, but it could become a mandatory

procedure.