Guiding Principles on Drug Testing and Health Interventions
- Drug testing considered primarily a health issue.
- Goal is to provide appropriate interventions for students who test positive to help stop drug use or abuse.
Key Definitions
- Chain of Custody: Procedures ensuring accountability and proper handling of specimens from collection to disposal.
- Interventions: Therapeutic, corrective, or rehabilitative programs including counseling, peer support, medical care, and structured rehabilitation.
- Laboratory: DOH-accredited government or private facility capable of conducting drug tests.
Procedures for Conducting Random Drug Testing
- Supervising Agency must inform all schools included in the program.
- Confidentiality of test results is strictly mandated; publishing or posting results is prohibited.
- Positive screening results require immediate confirmatory testing following strict chain of custody procedures.
Treatment of Confirmed Positive Results
- Results sealed and transmitted confidentially through proper channels.
- Designated school Random Drug Testing (RDT) Coordinator informs student and parent confidentially.
- Case conference involving student, parent, RDT Coordinator, and DOH-accredited physician to evaluate drug dependency and plan treatment.
- Referral to DOH-accredited or government physicians/facilities for evaluation and treatment.
- Parents and students may opt for government or private rehabilitation services.
- Non-expulsion and non-disciplinary status for positive results; results not reflected in academic records or used as evidence in court.
- Ongoing supervision and counseling by DOH-accredited entities and school drug counselors.
- Failure or relapse leads to possible referral to higher-level facilities and compliance with RA 9165 provisions on repeated offenses.
- School action required if parents refuse intervention, consistent with laws.
Reporting and Communication for Negative Results
- Negative results summarized and communicated individually to students and parents.
Training of Guidance Counselors
- DepEd, CHED, TESDA, PDEA, and DDB jointly implement training programs.
- Training aims to enhance skills in drug abuse prevention and handling dependency cases.
- Encouragement for accreditation of school counselors and medical personnel by DOH.
Enforcement and Compliance
- Students who refuse drug testing subject to school rules; refusal does not imply drug use or dependency.
- Schools may implement interventions consistent with regulations for refusal cases.
- Schools that do not implement programs liable under RA 9165.
- Supervising Agencies report non-compliance to PDEA and DDB.
- Encouragement for institutionalization of drug testing activities beyond government programs.
- Capacity-building support provided by Supervising Agencies and DOH.
- Schools conducting independent drug tests must report to Supervising Agencies for DOH accreditation.
Effectivity and Repeal
- Regulation takes effect 15 days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation and registration with ONAR.
- Inconsistent previous issuances, including Board Regulation No. 6, series of 2003, are repealed or modified accordingly.