MOSCOW, May 16 (RAPSI) - The State Duma adopted a bill on testing school students for the use of drugs and psychotropic substances on Wednesday.

According to the government sponsored bill, beginner drug users will be exposed in two stages: through social and psychological tests conducted by school and university psychologists, and during routine medical checkups. The tests at schools will be voluntary. Students aged over 15 will sign a written agreement and parents will make the decision for younger pupils.

If the test provides evidence or gives suspicion that a student is using drugs, he or she will be sent to a drug treatment center.

According to the bill, all schools and universities should ensure the confidentiality of drug test results.

Commenting on the bill, Grigory Balykhin, member of the State Duma Committee on Education and former head of the Federal Agency on Education, said that the initiative was moved to the federal level after experimental drug tests were held in several Russian regions.