Twenty-six children from a private preschool in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋) under investigation for accusations of drugging the students, tested negative for nine types of substances in a urine drug test, but it could be because the half-life of any possible drugs has passed, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday.
The ministry has since Thursday last week provided free medical services — including tests, follow-ups and treatment — at its Taipei Hospital to children at the preschool.
As of yesterday, the ministry had received 96 phone calls, and 27 children had sought medical attention and underwent a urine drug test, said Lin Ching-feng (林慶豐), director of the ministry’s Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission.
Photo: CNA
Of the 27 children, 26 tested negative for the nine substances, including barbiturates, while the test result of one child has not yet come back, he said.
Two children who tested negative showed signs of anxiety, insomnia and agitation, he added.
The results of the drug tests so far were similar to what the ministry had expected, because if they had been drugged, the substance could have already passed its half-life or been metabolized and excreted from the body, he said.
Photo: Wu Liang-yi, Taipei Times
Nonetheless, the hospital will continue to provide free medical services to children affected by the incident, he said.
Of the 96 phone calls, 17 were from parents of the children at the preschool under investigation, and 31 involved requests for hair follicle drug tests, with the parents leaving their contact information to receive further notice.
The New Taipei City Government has said that eight children at the preschool had tested positive for traces of phenobarbital, a type of sedative, but added that phenobarbital could also be found in some medicines for cold and stomach ailments.
The remark has drawn fire and accusations that the city government is trying to shift the blame to the parents or guardians of the children
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday said there are currently 15 drug permits for drugs containing phenobarbital, including six drugs that are listed as level 4 controlled substances used for treating seizures, and nine compound drugs — six for stomach ailments, two respiratory drugs and one for treating seizures — all of which are prescription medicines.
Meanwhile, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) yesterday attended a meeting of the city council, after the Democratic Progressive Party’s New Taipei City Council caucus on Tuesday last week proposed a motion that he report to the council about the alleged drug incident.
Hou said the council had originally ruled that the city’s health and education departments should report on the case, but he “proactively” attended the meeting because he has seen the rumors circulating, which have affected social perceptions and caused parents to worry.
He said that there is only one truth and it should be based on scientific evidence, so the government must clearly and truthfully tell people the truth.
He added that reports that a parent first reported about the case to the city government on April 14 has seriously hurt the city government, insisting that the city received its first report on the evening of May 14.
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