DRUG ADDICTION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Drug Problems in the Philippines

Reports of drug related crime are common in the Philippines media. The main
concern tends to be towards Shabu which gets the most media attention. It does
seem that illegal drug use is on the rise, and this has worrying implications for the
future. There is an urgent need to educate young people as to the dangers of drug
use, and there is also a great need to help those who are already addicted to escape
their misery. Failure to do this could mean there will be further deterioration
within many Filipino communities.

Statistics for Drug Problems in the Philippines

A US government report in 2009 concluded that illegal drug use was a significant
problem in the Philippines due to corruption and poor law enforcement. There was
particular concern expressed about the amount of methamphetamine (shabu) and
cannabis production in the area. Drug addiction appears to be on the rise in the
Philippines. There are believed to be as many as 6.7 million drug abusers
according to figures from 2004- this is a dramatic increase from 1972 when there
was only believed to have been around 20,000 drug users in the Philippines. The
drug that is most abused in the Philippines continues to be Alcohol they are the
second highest consumers of alcoholic drinks in South East Asia.

Most Commonly Abused Drugs in the Philippines

The most commonly abused drugs in the Philippines include:
* Alcohol
* Marijuana
* Heroin
* Cocaine
* Methamphetamine (locally known as Shabu)
* Inhalants such as nitrates and gasoline. These can be a cheap way for people to
get high.
* Opium
* Ecstasy (MDMA)

Concerns for Shabu Abuse

One of the most abused drugs in the Philippines is a local type of
methamphetamine mixed with caffeine known as Shabu. This stimulant is
believed to be the drug of choice for 90% of the Philippines illegal substance
users. This is a powerfully addictive drug that can cause people to have intense
hallucinations and become extremely paranoid. Some users of this drug have even
jumped off high rise buildings because they believed they could fly. Shabu didnt
arrive in the Philippines until the mid-eighties, but it soon became hugely popular
among drug users. Methamphetamine causes feelings of euphoria and the user
feels full of energy.

Problems Related to Drug Addiction

Drug abuse leads to many problems such as:

* The individual does not have to be abusing a substance like Shabu long before
they become addicted.
* Those individuals who become addicted can become obsessed with their habit.
This means that everything else in their life will take second place.
* The individuals behavior will change. They may become physically violent or
engage in other types of bad behavior.
* Those who abuse these drugs can struggle to keep down a job. They may
become unemployable.
* Young people who use these substances will be unable to perform well in school
or college. This means that they will be limiting their future opportunities.
* When drug users run out of money to feed their habit they will be tempted to
turn to crime. This may mean stealing from family and friends or from complete
strangers.
* Many addicts fall into a life of crime and eventually end up in prison or worse.
* If the drug addict is unable to escape this behavior it is highly likely to lead to
their death. This individual will shorten their lifespan as a result of their behavior.
* Illegal drug users run the risk of overdose. It can be difficult to assess the
strength of illegal drugs, and it can be similar to playing a game of Russian
roulette every time the addict uses these substances it is even possible for people
to die of an overdose after only trying illegal drugs one time.

Cost of Drug Addiction in the Philippines

The cost of drug addiction is high for the Philippines and it involves:

* A great deal of domestic violence is associated with drug abuse.
* A huge proportion of criminal acts are committed by individuals who are trying
to satisfy their drug habit.
* The economy suffers because drug users become less productive in their jobs or
they become unable to work completely.
* The government needs to spend large amounts of money on tackling drug
problems. The resources used by law enforcement alone are a drain.
* Money that could be spent to improve the life of a family is wasted because one
member is a drug addict. It can lead to a situation where the rest of the family is
living in poverty while one of them wastes thousands of pesos each week on
drugs.
* A criminal underworld had developed in order to take advantage of the desire
for these illegal substances. The money made from selling drugs is used to finance
other criminal acts as well as terrorism.
* Drug addict can destroy communities. It can lead to a situation where people are
afraid to leave their homes because of fear of crime.
* The individual who falls into drug addiction can lose everything including
their own self-respect. This miserable life is a waste of human potential.

Treatment for Drug Addiction in the Philippines

There are a number of treatment options available to people in the Philippines who
need help including:

* Narcotics Anonymous is a twelve step program that supports the individual to
escape their addictions. This fellowship is not just focused on stopping the drug
use but also on building a life worth living.
* There are a number of drug rehabilitation facilities in the Philippines including
Serenity at the Quarry.
* It is becoming more common for Filipinos to go abroad to seek the most
effective treatment for their addictions. Drug and Alcohol Rehab Asia is based in
Thailand and is considered to be one of the leading rehab in Asia.

AGENCY

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) (Filipino: Kawanihan ng
Pilipinas Laban sa Droga) is the lead anti-drugs law enforcement agency,
responsible for preventing, investigating and combating any dangerous drugs,
controlled precursors and essential chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is
tasked with the enforcement of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic
Act No. 9165 (R.A. 9165), otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002.

SOME LAWS ABOUT DRUGS

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10586 also known as Anti-Drunk and Drugged
Driving Act of 2013
An act penalizing persons driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs,
and similar substances, and for other purposes.

Approved:
By President Aquino

R.A. No. 953, Narcotic Drugs Law
An act to provide for the registration of, with the collector of internal revenue, and
the imposition of fixed and special taxes upon all persons who produce, import,
manufacture, compound, deal in, dispense, sell, distribute, or give away opium,
marihuana, opium poppies, or coca leaves, or any synthetic drugs which may
hereafter be declared habit forming by the president of the philippines, their salts,
derivatives or preparations, and for other purposes.

Approved: June 20, 1953
By Former President Elpidio Quirino

R.A. 9165 also known as "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002"
An act instituting the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Of 2002, repealing
Republic Act No. 6425, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act Of 1972, as
amended, providing funds therefor, and for other purposes.

Approved: January 23, 2002
By Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo