New Zealand University Students Offered To Get Drug Testing At Orientation Week

New Zealand university students are now offered to get a free drug testing during the orientation week of the upcoming semester. As told by FoxNews, the student associate at Otago University is offering services allowing students to check if their “recreational drugs have not been mixed with potentially dangerous substances.” This is unprecedented, as this is the first time a university has ever done free drug testing.  The Typical Student team learned the details.

Keeping Students Safe

According to Debbie Downs, the CEO of Otago University Students Association (OUSA), this was a “bold and pre-emptive move”  meant to keep students safe. She commented as follows: “First and foremost, OUSA is no way condones drug use of any kind, but in the day and age we live in, we are cognizant of the need for harm prevention.” 

Previously, the Guardian has reported that drug testing has been implemented at music festivals across New Zealand as part of a health-based approach to illegal drug use supported by the government. New Zealand’s Drug Foundation reports that people aged between 18 and 25 have the highest drug use rate of any age group in the country.

OUSA Campaign Not Endorsed By Universities

Students should mind that the drug testing won’t happen on campus and is not enforced by the university officials. “The university does not endorse either the use of illegal drugs or the drug testing initiative led by the NZ Drug Foundation, but has no plans to interfere in the detail of OUSA’s welfare and support delivery.”