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MONTERREY, Mexico, July 2 (Reuters) - Mexican students will take drug tests in schools as part of an effort to reduce narcotics use among young people, President Felipe Calderon said on Monday.

Calderon said 8,000 schools will take part in the first stage of the program when the school year begins in August and September. Students ages 12 to 17 whose parents consent will take the test, which will ultimately be administered nationwide.

"We must join forces to have ... permanent review of pupils' health to detect any addiction and to act immediately, not to punish them but to help them," Calderon said during a visit to a poor neighborhood of Monterrey in northern Mexico.

About 5 percent of young Mexicans have tried illegal drugs at least once, a much lower number than in the United States, but narcotics use is on the rise, the United Nations says.

Mexican drug smugglers channel billions of dollars worth of South American cocaine and marijuana into the United States every year, but increasing amounts are staying in Mexico.

Mexican drug users bought $3 billion worth of cocaine last year, Mexican newspaper Reforma reported on Monday.

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