Ministry of Education Considers Saliva Testing for 'Zombie Vape' in Schools; Teachers' Union Worries About Workload

The Ministry of Education announced it is considering incorporating saliva testing into schools as a rapid tool to identify the use of new drugs like etomidate, commonly known as 'zombie vapes.' The policy could be implemented as early as September. In response, the National Federation of Teachers' Unions issued a press release expressing concern that this would significantly increase the burden on grassroots teachers. The union argued that the key to preventing drug abuse lies in controlling the source, including tracking vape cartridges, monitoring online sales, and cracking down on criminal networks, which are beyond the capacity of schools. They urged the Executive Yuan to integrate resources from the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and law enforcement, rather than shifting responsibility to teachers. They also suggested increasing the number of student affairs staff to handle such tasks.