The Government is considering introducing drug testing kits to the market that would allow parents to privately check whether their children have used narcotics, as part of its national anti-drug campaign.
The proposal was discussed at the ‘Ratama Ekata’ National Operations Council meeting on eradicating the drug menace, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.
According to the President’s Media Division, the kits would be made available through pharmacies to enable parents to carry out private drug tests on their children.
The meeting also focused on strengthening measures to combat drug abuse, including expanding awareness programmes in schools, introducing a nationwide survey on drug use among schoolchildren, and improving rehabilitation services for drug addicts.
Officials also revealed that around 70% of the country’s prison population consists of individuals addicted to drugs, highlighting the scale of the issue.
In addition, the Government reviewed plans to speed up the destruction of seized narcotics, improve forensic testing, strengthen maritime anti-drug operations, and finalise legislation on the rehabilitation of drug users. (Newswire)