Bill proposes voluntary student drug screening

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior will take up today (Tuesday) the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2025—a key legislation aimed at tackling drug use in educational institutions by further amending the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997.

Introduced by PPP MNA Sahar Kamran, the proposed legislation aims to prevent drug use in educational institutions, promote student rehabilitation, protect mental health and introduce a treatment-based approach instead of a punitive system.

Under the bill, new sections 53A, 53B and 53C are proposed to be added to the act. According to proposed Section 53A, candidates seeking admission to higher secondary level or above educational institutions may voluntarily undergo non-invasive drug screening.

Drug testing will only be conducted by accredited medical institutions and strictly with the written and informed consent of the candidate.

The bill clearly states that a positive drug test result alone cannot be used as grounds to deny admission. In such cases, the candidate will be provided confidential medical assessment and, with consent, may be referred to rehabilitation or recovery programmes.

The government will be responsible for providing counselling, rehabilitation and mental health facilities to such students free of cost.

Under proposed Section 53B, it will be mandatory for every public and private educational institution to appoint at least one trained faculty member or staff member as a student counsellor.

The student counsellor will be responsible for raising awareness about the harms of drug use, addiction and mental health issues.

Educational institutions will also be required to establish confidential support mechanisms for students and, in collaboration with health institutions, provide mental health services on campus.