The drug problem is one of the public health challenges that the Philippines is facing right now. The current administration believed it is a complex problem that the government should prioritize its drug-war program.
According to President Rodrigo Duterte, there are an estimated 7 to 8 million drug users in the country which is double between 3 to 4 million users in 2016. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) revealed a total of 220,728 individuals are arrested due to violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Due to the increasing public and social problems of illegal drugs, Holy Cross College launched the first-ever Drug Symposium last September 25.
HCC President, Atty. Dennis C. Pangan shared that one of the cases he handled during his first year was the involvement of students in dangerous drugs. However, he clarified the school will never tolerate these wrongdoings and vowed to keep the school clean from illegal drugs.
“Ang Holy Cross po ay Drug-free narinig ko rin po mismo sa bibig ng barangay captain ng Santa Lucia ay isa na ring drug-free. Kami po ay laging nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga kinauukulan dahil kami po ay naniniwala na kapag successful ang kampanya sa illegal na droga kung ang lahat po ay tatayo at lalaban sa droga at hindi pagtatakpan ang sino man. Sana po ang mga nanunukulan, ipatupad ang batas at maging ehemplo sa bayan ng Santa Ana,” he said.
Chief of Police of Santa Ana Municipal Police Station, Police Major German Pascua II, joined the panel members of the symposium with the BS Criminology program head Leslie Dela Cruz, Santa Lucia barangay captain Bernabe Flores, and Chief Guidance Counsellor Archilles David.
The virtual symposium tackled the most commonly abused drugs, drug addiction, mental and physical effects in an individual. It also explains different reasons why youth engages and most likely to be dependent on drugs.
Due to family problems, school troubles, environment, peer pressure and personal challenges may trigger an individual to use illegal drugs.
“Isang factor ang mental health problems sa pagiging susceptible to the use of drugs. Mental health problems depression, bipolar disorders that can make a person to be addicted sa ipinagbabawal na gamot,” Chief Guidance Counsellor Archilles David said.
He added that some students tried illegal drugs due to peer pressure and bullying in school or the community.
Police Major Pascua explained different drugs that some people didn’t know are illegal and subject to violations under the law. He urged family members, school, and community leaders to also monitor the youth in their actions and try to talk to them in a manner that the youth will listen to.
“So sana wag tayo dumating sa punto na kami ang kumausap sa inyo, sana sa mga mag-aaral kung mahal niyo ang sarili niyo may panagrap sa buhay wala kayong ibang gagawin kundi mag focus sa pag-aaral. Maganda ang isang pamilya na nag uusap-usap para makita ano problema,” PMaj Pascua said.
The Local Government Unit of Santa Ana has been active in its program to help illegal drug dependents and tallied more than 400 surrenders who undergone rehabilitation programs according to the PNP.