Pubdate: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 Source: People's Tonight (Philippines) Copyright: Journal Group 2005 Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp Website: http://www.journal.com.ph Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3454 Author: Miriam V. Torrecampo Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) RP HAS 1.8 MILLION DRUG ADDICTS -- DOH DON'T be surprised if number of reported drug-related crimes has increased over the years. This is because the Department of Health, citing a data from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), disclosed yesterday that the number of individuals who uses illegal drugs or substances has increased by 100 percent annually since 1972. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that typical Filipinos who use drugs are mostly males, single, have graduated from high school, with an average monthly income of P13,553.36, and residing in urban areas like the National Capital Region. Duque said that from just 20,000 cases in the 1970s, habitual or regular drug users now rose to 1.8 million in 1998. Because of the alarming number, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said it's about time that the government and the public "addressed this menace silently crippling the society that results to adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes." Duque further said that prevention efforts have now become crucial to address the drug problem. Unfortunately, there were only eight government-funded rehabilitation centers operating in the country today. Four are run by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and four formerly operated by the Philippine National Police (PNP), now managed by the DOH. Duque said only 50 percent of the 8,180 admissions to rehab centers in 2003 were served in these eight institutions. Last year, 4,041 of the three million drivers and those who applied for firearm license who underwent mandatory drug testing were found positive for drugs. The confirmed cases come from the National Capital Region and Regions 4, 6 and 7. It was also reported that 1.2 percent or at least 68 high school students of the total 5,648 students tested at random this year are found positive for shabu and marijuana. Next year, they will be conducting random drug test for college students. Meanwhile, confirmatory testing will no longer be a problem on the part of the government that usually hires the services of private laboratories. Yesterday, the DOH unveiled two drug confirmatory testing machines called Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometry (GCMS) at the National Research Laboratory at the East Avenue Medical Center compound in Quezon City. The machines, worth P15 million, have 99.9 accuracy according to EAMC director Roland Cortez. Duque even lead the other DOH executives have their urine tested at the NRL using the newly acquired machines. Drug testing is mandatory for those applying for driving license, firearms, those who want to bring their firearms outside their residences, candidates for public office both national and local, those who are appointed and elected in the national office and local government units, those serving sentences at the prosecutors office of not less than six years and one day, and military, policemen and law enforcement agencies. Duque said that individuals dependent on illegal substances are usually out of work, uncaring about his health, and even expose themselves to a number of infectious diseases like AIDS. To support his habit, they at times engage in some form of criminal activity. Duque advises adolescents never to try drugs, don't give in to peer pressure and enjoined the community to be aware of young people's activities. "For those found to be positive of illegal drugs, the DOH is advising them to immediately seek professional help and should not withdraw themselves from society," he said. In observance of Substance Abuse Prevention Week from Nov 7 to 11, the DOH is offering free drug testing to first 500 clients in the 32 DOH-retained hospitals nationwide with drug testing laboratory. - ---