BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Health-Cordillera will release the “People First” program under Drug Abuse and Prevention Week on the third week of November, which aims to stop stigma, discrimination, and misinformation about drugs and drug abuse users.
Mr. Orly Primo, Senior Health Program Officer of DOH-CAR, clarified that the program is about having a substance-free lifestyle and targeting the behavior that is attached to the drug abuse users, not the person itself, which is assessing the physical and mental health.
Last year, 5,546 were admitted persons who use drugs in the country, where 91.74 percent were males while 7.70 percent were females. The most commonly used drugs are shabu at 92.77 percent, marijuana at 28.25 percent, and cocaine at 0.61 percent.
For the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program in CAR, as of third quarter this year, 32 are new surrenders, 12 are new participants, 999 are graduates, 438 are enrolled, and four are in ongoing treatment. Currently, there are seven DOH-certified CBDRPs located in Kabugao; Apayao, Baguio City, La Trinidad; Benguet, Bugias; Benguet, Lamut; Ifugao, and Dolores; Abra.
Primo also corrects the term “substance use disorder,” which is now the medical term for ‘addiction.’ The American Psychological Association ditched both “substance use” and “substance disorder” terms in favor of “substance use disorder.”
The rationale of these terms is to stop the stigma. “When use you say drug use o kapag gumagamit ang tao ng droga ay agad-agad na pumapasok ay ‘addict’ pero hindi ibig sabihin na a person who have been using drugs, addict na siya agad,” he emphasized.
He also said that drug abuse covers illicit drugs, not substances such as alcohol and nicotine. He also emphasized that drug abuse is the use of drugs intended not for its sole purpose and in a harmful way.
The Dangerous Drugs Board also sets criteria for the age of the person. Ages six to ten years old have to participate in campus tours for drug prevention, self-discover seminars, and storytelling contests. Ages 11-14 have to attend summer youth camp and leadership training, while ages 15-19 need to undergo peer groups against drugs and the National Youth Congress or National Summit for College Students. “It’s not an issue only of the criminal justice system, but also a social and health issue,” he said.
The Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs also conducts a nationwide advocacy campaign for the government’s anti-illegal drug policies and programs headed by the Department of Interior Local Government. All local government agencies shall support the campaign. By Michael Dadd
