Russia to introduce drug tests for students
By IANSWednesday, February 16, 2011
Moscow, Feb 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia may introduce mandatory drug tests for students, including schoolchildren, this year, an official said Wednesday.
The issue of students’ drug testing was raised in September 2009 by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who at that time said he backed mandatory drug testing for schoolchildren.
“The earlier we introduce the system (of testing), the more teenagers we will save,” state anti-drug committee deputy head Oleg Trifonov said. “We would like this to happen in 2011.”
An estimated 90 percent of heroin consumed in Russia is trafficked from Afghanistan via the ex-Soviet states of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and most of the heroin sold in Europe passes through Russia.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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