Sanchez wants study tour in US

CEBU, Philippines - Neophyte Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez is looking at attending drug addiction prevention and treatment training in the United States.

Sanchez said that she got the invitation from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) regarding the one-week study tour to be facilitated by Daytop International in New York, USA on October 20-26 for the local government officials.

  Sanchez suggested to his colleagues to take a look at this seminar which aims to learn and experience the science of addiction as well as prevention and treatment and how rehabilitation centers should be run.

She said that at least they would be informed and armed with the knowledge on how to run efficiently a drug rehabilitation center and will be able to help drug dependents.

“Kadaghanan sa ato diri wa pa man kaayo’y successful nga nindot nga government-operated nga rehab center. (There is no successful government-operated rehab center in Cebu yet),” Sanchez said.

Sanchez has personal sentiment on the matter because her brother, Greco, has been in the drug rehabilitation center for 18 times already.

“There must be something wrong with the system of rehabilitation,” she said.

She said that tapping the services of other private entity like Daytop Village, one of the oldest drug treatment service providers in the US, to assist them in this noble endeavor is very vital and necessary.

Sanchez is hoping she can attend and other PB members especially Board Member Carmen Remedios Meca who chairs the committee on anti-drug abuse prevention.

Last Monday, the PB passed the resolution sponsored by Sanchez encouraging elected officials including congressmen in Cebu Province to attend the said training.

“Seriously attending to the dilemma on substance abuse needs in-depths study and right approach to ensure the possible reduction if not eradication of the drug abuse problem in our locality,” the resolution read.

The PB also invited DDB Director Jeorgette Pa-deranga to appear before their pre-caucus session to expound about the activity. — (FREEMAN)