VIENTIANE, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Illicit substance use and addiction in society continues to cause concern for policymakers and civil organizations in communities and countries worldwide, and the Southeast Asian nation of Laos is no different.
In landlocked Laos and across much of the wider region, use of highly-addictive methamphetamines and other synthetic substances has been displacing other illicit and long-infamous vices such as the bulbous opium poppy and the distinctive leaves and odoriferous flowers of the cannabis plant.
In a bid to curb the trend and minimize methamphetamine and other illicit substance usage, a testing regime for employees in companies, factories and offices has been suggested by Laos' civil mass organization Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC), a key civil institution.
Legislators of the country's National Assembly heard a proposal from the LFNC calling for the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare to facilitate a testing regime, aimed at discouraging illicit drug usage among the country's young and growing pool of labor.
Members of the public took to state-run daily Vientiane Times on Friday to make thoughts felt on the issue, with all four interviewed seen to be agreeing with the concept.
"To ensure that tests are effective, checks of blood and urine should be carried out regularly, such as once a month at least," Keth Leuthsombath, a resident of Saravan province in the south of the country, was quoted as saying.
"I agree with this initiative because it will help to reduce the social problems caused by drug abuse and hopefully prevent more people from using drugs. Drugs have caused problems in my home," he said.
"I think this is the best way to reduce drug use and prevent the problems that arise from drug addiction. I have heard that the authorities have carried out drug checks in schools ... Construction workers should also be tested," Noy, an employee in the capital's Xaysettha district was quoted as saying.
"I think the authorities should focus on target groups such as young people, especially students and workers, because they are the most at-risk groups. If they have to undergo blood and urine tests, these groups will be less likely to use drugs," Kham Mithdala, employee in the capital's Chanthabouly district was quoted as saying.
"It's good that the authorities are trying to tackle the issue and are cracking down on drug dealing, but what they've done is not enough. Everyone, especially young people and children, should follow the advice of their parents and elders and use their free time wisely by playing sports or engaging in productive activities," Soudaphone Sengmanivong, a resident of the capital's Xaythany district was quoted as saying.
Despite the apparent enthusiasm for such an approach, multiple challenges to implementing a comprehensive illicit drug testing policy program in Laos, a least developed country of 6.5 million people, including deficiency of fiscal, technical and human resource capacities.
