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Some Moscow schools to join voluntary drug testing project Sept 1

For doctors it will be enough to take a blood test to see if a person used drugs over the previous six months

MOSCOW, August 30 (Itar-Tass) — Each of Moscow’s administrative districts will have at least one school where students will be invited to take voluntary tests for drug abuse, the chief narcologist of Russia’s Health Ministry, Yevgeny Bryun, told the media on Thursday.

“At first one school will be selected in each administrative district,” he explained. “The education department will say which one.”

Bryun warned that Moscow’s narcological service was unable to conduct testing at all schools.

“We do not have the strength or the financial resources for all schools,” he explained. “We shall be doing that in steps.”

The chief narcologist hopes that the most active parents will be spreading the idea of voluntary testing.

As for the medical side of the affair, for doctors it will be enough to take a blood test to see if a person used drugs over the previous six months.

The chief narcologist called on officials, show business representatives and the public at large to take voluntary drug tests.

“They might set a good example,” Byun said. “University and school students would find it easier to make the correct decision.”

At first the test will be conducted for the use of heroin, methadone, stimulators and opiates. With time the list will grow longer.