Drug
Tests From Preventx Are Go In UK Schools
Released on
= September 21, 2005, 4:42 am
Press Release
Author = Preventx Ltd
Industry = Healthcare
Press Release
Summary = Now that the summer holiday period is over and children
are returning to school, head teachers are increasingly looking
for ways to improve GCSE pass rates, create safer environments and
boost student/teacher morale.
Preventx, the
European supplier of home drug testing kits have reported a high
increase in sales since Primeminister Tony Blair gave his backing
to headteachers to test pupils.
Press Release
Body = Now that the summer holiday period is over and children are
returning to school, head teachers are increasingly looking for
ways to improve GCSE pass rates, create safer environments and boost
student/teacher morale.
In a bid to
address these concerns, some heads are issuing random drug tests
to pupils from ages 11 to 16. Using oral swab tests they can check
for cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, tranquilisers, barbiturates
and methamphetamines.
Preventx, a
leading European supplier, and the first UK company to offer the
test has reported a high increase of sales to schools throughout
the UK.
Preventx director,
Michelle Hart said:
“Over
the past year, our distribution to schools in the UK has risen every
month. Head teachers are realising that something has to be done
about drug abuse among pupils. Statistics show that one in five
schools will have to deal with illegal drug use each year.”
She added:
The intention
of drug testing isn’t to shame pupils, but to give help and
assistance before it’s too late. If usage is detected early
enough, support can be provided to show the potential harm they
may be doing to themselves and their loved ones.”
A recent ICM research poll has shown that 82 per cent of parents
and 66 per cent of children favoured drug testing in schools. Out
of the 1,000 parents surveyed, 96 per cent said they would want
to know if their child was taking drugs.
This comes after
Tony Blair gave head teachers the power to introduce testing in
schools in an interview with a national newspaper last year.
Mr Blair said:“Some
head teachers may worry that if they go down this path they are
declaring there is a problem with their school. But in my view,
the local community is probably perfectly fully aware that there
is a problem.”
One school that
is already carrying out random tests on its pupils claims they have
had positive results. The Abbey School in Faversham, Kent has been
testing pupils since the beginning of 2004 and head teacher Peter
Walker believes it has contributed to all time high GCSE pass rates.
Mr Walker said:
“I feel
that drug testing has helped people feel much safer.
“It has
had an effect on contributions in the class room and on behaviour
with far less disruption.”
Each week 20
names are randomly selected by computer to have the tests taken.
Mr Walker said
he would not expel pupils if test results showed positive, but would
interview pupils in the presence of parents where appropriate action
would be taken.
He said:
“I can
understand that there could be fears about infringing human rights
and civil liberties, but we have been very careful about that.”
Miss Hart added:
“Mr Walker
has appropriate systems in place when testing pupils. The parents
and students are fully aware of what the procedure is and if they
don’t want to take the test, they can refuse to do so.”
Recent random
tests in American schools have dramatically cut marijuana, cocaine
and heroine abuse among pupils. And President Bush has provided
extra millions of dollars for the programme as “a tool to
save children’s lives.”
Web Site = http://www.preventx.co.uk
Contact Details
= Preventx Limited
Stable Row
Hartford Hall Estate
Bedlington
Northumbria
NE22 6AG
+441670 821
352
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