Less than 1% of drug users have access to rehabilitation centers

CEBU, Philippines - Of the estimated 1.7 million illegal drug dependents nationwide, only 1,189 have access to rehabilitation.

This was according to a survey conducted by the Philippine Normal University last year.

“If we could just rehabilitate half of those drug dependents and put them off the streets, it would remarkably affect the drugs trade,” Dangerous Drugs Board Undersecretary Paul Oaminal said.

He added that parents and relatives of drug dependents as well as the community must understand that only in rehabilitation centers can the patients get access to proper medical or psychological interventions and that education would put off the stigma society associates with rehab centers. 

Also, people are warned of the stories of the alleged ineffectiveness of rehab centers as these are fabricated by the drug dependents themselves to discourage families of drug users from submitting the latter to rehabilitation. To most drug users, being inside rehab facilities means not being able to buy and use drugs.

As the political pot comes to a boil, people must demand from their local chief executives of the establishment or continued support of rehabilitation centers. In fact, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Section 51 reads: “Local government units shall appropriate a substantial portion of their respective annual budgets to assist in or enhance the enforcement of this Act giving priority to preventive or educational programs and the rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents.”

Oaminal lauds the governors and other officials of provinces consistently supporting and enhancing locally established rehabilitation centers like the Luntiang Paraiso Rehabilitation Center in New Corella, Davao del Norte and the Negros Oriental Rehabilitation Center in Dumaguete City.

Further, the DDB has designated the Parole Probation Administration as its representative in petitions for voluntary confinement. — Johanna T. Natavio/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)