Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jan 2005
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Author: Danny C. Dayanghirang
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SHABU

Honestly, I have not seen metamphitamine hydrochloride, a chemical
substance known as SHABU, personally except in the television or
photographs in the newspapers.

Neither have I touched it or smelled it. During the campaign, I remember
that our Mayor was  very passionate in explaining to the people that shabu
will make our brains smaller and smaller until it will be damaged and make
the person crazy.

This is why shabu users can no longer recognize the consequences of their
actions. They have no concern or love at all to anything even to their kin
to the extent that they can be too violent and can stomach killing their
loved ones.

I could not even decipher the rationality of a father who jumped from a
building bringing his innocent child to an early death due to internal
hemorrhage. He was said to be high on shabu.

There are also news about incidents of a son raping his mother or sister
and a bus driver driving his bus in full speed until it fell into a ravine,
which resulted to the death of its passengers. These are only few
unpleasant incidents caused by shabu-altered behavior of our fellowmen.

Just recently, through the joint participation and efforts of the Talomo
Police Station and PDEA Insp. Wilkins Villanueva, a big-time raid of shabu
laboratory in the city under the strict supervision of Mayor RRD took
place. Three consecutive shabu factory busts took place in the new year; if
I am not mistaken, they were at Toril, Obrero and Bunawan areas.

Equipment and other paraphernalia for shabu making were confiscated in the
shabu factories that were intended to supply not only Davao City but also
across the Philippines.

If the said factories were not raided, you can just imagine the effect of
it in the community, the lives of thousands of our youths ruined and the
sheer number of families affected.

And because of these big drug busts, we congratulate our City Mayor for
strongly leading the campaign against drug users in the City.

Eventually, the so-called death squad has to stop the killings of those
allegedly involved in drug addiction in the City. I would presume that the
level of awareness on the danger of shabu and other drugs is high
considering that a majority of our people no longer complain of the summary
killings in the City.

However, allowing the killings to go on is never an answer to the perennial
problem the shabu-spread is posing. What is critical here is that we should
solve drug pushing and addiction problems in a family approach.

We can probably start from within our family such that if we have knowledge
that any member of our family is into the drug trade, a sincere and
passionate family discussion should be held.

As a family, we should discourage any of our family members from entering
the drug traffic. As an option, we can ask the help of counselors to guide
the involved person or we can approach concerned government agencies for
assistance for the said person. These are only advices I can share for the
good of our community. Trusting our government's effort in lobbying against
drugs and protecting the welfare of our youth is the most sincere way of
showing our love to our country and our fellowmen.
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