NGARCHELONG — Members of the Ngarchelong State Assembly and their staff have voluntarily tested negative for methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” following drug tests conducted on April 29 and 30, 2025, at the Belau Medical Clinic.
The initiative, led by Speaker Abraham Osima and the Ngarchelong General Assembly, came in response to growing concerns about illegal drug use within the Ngarchelong community. In addition to the Assembly members and staff, members of the Council of Chiefs also participated in the voluntary testing.
While Ngarchelong’s policy mandates that the governor randomly selects state employees for drug testing, the Assembly members and traditional leaders chose to be tested proactively.
Test results shared with this publication on May 15 confirmed that all participants were drug-free.
Amid rising reports of illegal drug use in Palau’s outlying states, including Babeldaob, several states have begun invoking traditional measures to curb the spread. Koror, Airai, and Peleliu have each activated the “bul,” a customary ban used to address community issues such as drug abuse.