16/11/2021
Every third week of November is Drug Abuse Prevention and Control week that aims to promote public awareness against drug abuse and addiction.
Drug abuse and addiction continue to be detrimental not only to the health of the Filipinos, but also to their safety and freedom. As it is a serious problem that affects millions of our countrymen, this health issue is frequently stigmatized and viewed as a violent problem that can only be solved through punishment, physical force, and other macho-feudal measures. The Duterte administration's War on Drugs campaign resulted in many cases of extrajudicial killings, illustrating the prevalent macho-feudal system in the Philippines and constituting a violation of the right to freedom.
Most people associate drug abuse with deviancy, criminality, and violence β a reflection of the societyβs negative outlook towards persons who use illegal drugs. The War on Drugs fueled these negative associations and labels, viewing drug problems as merely a "criminality issue." This approach, which heavily focused on eradicating and convicting drug users, failed to address the issue at its root. It only continued to foster a culture where fear, rather than awareness, is instilled. Moreover, it poorly labels innocent people as illegal drug users, which the state forces have judged as worthy of killing. No matter how bad the case may be, drug abuse and addiction should never be a reason for taking oneβs life.
Being Iskolars ng Bayan, we must recognize that drug abuse and addiction is a public health issue that can be prevented, treated, and managed with the right approach, interventions, and policies. Methods used by the government, punitive law enforcement have failed in addressing the real issue of drug problems. It resulted in more violence, larger prison, erosion of governance, and worsened health harms associated with drug use. Although we recognize and are aware of the adverse effects of illegal drug use, it should not put them in more significant damage by allowing the proliferation of violence.
In observance of National Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Month this November, the 42nd University Student Council's Health Committee presents a podcast called "What the Health?!β with its first series, "Bringing drug abuse and addiction into the light." With the guest speakers' expertise about drugs, the UPM USC hopes to educate the public and see drug abuse as a health concern, as well as to propagate eradicating its associated stigma.
In the midst of rampant impunity and relentless incitement from the highest levels of government, let us call for reparations and justice for the victims, stop viewing drug abuse and addiction as crimes, and start recognizing those suffering require assistance, not bullets. Drug abuse and addiction are not criminal justice issues; instead, they are public health concerns.
?!
Presented by: USC Health Committee
Content by: Chelsea Erispe and Brandon Deichmann
Pub by: Chelsea Erispe and Celeste Alcantara
REFERENCES:
2019 Drug Survey shows drug use prevalence rate falls to 2.05%. Dangerous Drugs Board. (2020, October 14). Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.ddb.gov.ph/newsroom/511-2019-drug-survey-shows-drug-use-prevalence-rate-falls-to-2-05.
Gavilan, J. (2016, September 4). Best practices: How other countries dealt with drug problems. Rappler. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/drugs-best-practices-countries.
Knopf, T. (2019, November 13). Switzerland couldn't stop drug users. so it started supporting them. North Carolina Health News. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2019/01/21/switzerland-couldnt-stop-drug-users-so-it-started-supporting-them/.
Lesser, B. (2021, May 26). What is the Difference Between Drug Abuse and Addiction? DualDiagnosis.org. Retrieved from https://dualdiagnosis.org/drug-addiction/abuse-and-addiction/
Olario, A. R. (n.d.). Current Situation Of Transnational Organized Crime In The Philippines. 108th International Seminar Participantsβ Papers.
Robertson, P. (2020, October 28). Another spike in Philippines' 'Drug War' deaths. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/28/another-spike-philippines-drug-war-deaths #.
Santos, J. (2016, April 16). As Colombia's leader, I know we must rethink the Drugs War. The Guardian. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/16/war-drugs-colombia-un-new-approach.
WebMD Connect to Care Staff. (2021, July 12). Substance Abuse vs. Addiction: Whatβs the Difference? WebMD. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/difference-between-substance-abuse-and-addiction
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