By The Pulseline News Desk
The Government is considering introducing home drug testing kits that would enable parents to privately check whether their children have used narcotics, as part of a broader national strategy to curb drug abuse and strengthen early intervention.
The proposal was discussed during 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 (PMD), the proposed kits would be made available through pharmacies, allowing parents to conduct confidential drug tests at home if they suspect their children may be using illegal substances.
The initiative forms part of a wider anti-drug campaign aimed at reducing substance abuse through prevention, early detection, law enforcement, and rehabilitation.
Focus on prevention
The meeting also reviewed measures to strengthen awareness and prevention programmes, particularly among schoolchildren.
Among the proposals discussed were expanding anti-drug awareness campaigns in schools and conducting a nationwide survey to assess the prevalence of drug use among students. Officials said such data would help authorities better understand emerging trends and develop targeted interventions.
The Government also examined ways to enhance rehabilitation services for people battling drug addiction, with an emphasis on treatment and reintegration into society.
Prison population highlights challenge
During the meeting, officials revealed that approximately 70% of Sri Lanka’s prison population comprises individuals addicted to drugs, underscoring the extent to which narcotics continue to fuel crime and place pressure on the country’s criminal justice system.
The figure prompted renewed discussions on strengthening rehabilitation alongside enforcement to reduce repeat offences and address addiction as a public health issue.
Strengthening enforcement
The National Operations Council also reviewed several measures aimed at improving the country’s anti-drug enforcement framework.
These included accelerating the destruction of seized narcotics, enhancing forensic testing capabilities to support criminal investigations, and strengthening maritime surveillance and operations to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating through Sri Lankan waters.
The Government further discussed expediting legislation relating to the rehabilitation of drug users as part of efforts to establish a more comprehensive legal framework for treatment and recovery.
The discussions come as the Government continues to intensify its nationwide campaign against narcotics, combining tougher enforcement with preventive education and rehabilitation in an effort to reduce both drug trafficking and drug dependency across the country.
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