Psychologists group recommends more 'humane' approach vs drug addiction issue

MANILA, Philippines — A group of psychologists on Monday expressed opposition to the government's approach to drug addiction as the Philippine Mental Health Law was signed which defined addiction as a disease.

President Rodrigo Duterte won over 16 million votes with his promise to ruthlessly rid the country of drugs. The Duterte administration's crackdown on illegal drug traders and users since July 2016 has claimed thousands of lives.

But the Psychological Association of the Philippines, in a statement posted by News5, stressed that under the Philippine Mental Health Law, addiction is defined as “primary chronic relapsing disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry.”

LOOK | Tinutulan ng Psychological Association of the Philippines ang mga programang tumuturing sa paggamit ng droga bilang isang krimen. Hindi raw ito epektibong tugon sa problema sa drug addiction.

????: Psychological Association of the Philippines pic.twitter.com/FrQBdytpys

— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) January 7, 2019

Duterte signed the landmark law, Republic Act 11036, on June 2018. The law reiterates the country’s commitment to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Rights with Disabilities, and all other relevant international and regional conventions and declarations.

Malacañang hailed the passage of the law as it “forms part of the government’s mandate to design and implement a national mental health program and integrate this as part of the health information system, among others.”

But the psychologists’ group pointed out that the government’s approach of criminalizing drug addiction also runs counter to the definition of addiction or substance use disorder as articulated in the law.

They recommended that the government amend Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 to align it with a more scientific and humane approach to the drug problem defined by RA 11036.

The group of psychologists also suggested that the government “address social issues that perpetuate addiction, such as poverty, unemployment.”

Shift to a more humane approach

They also said that while studies found out that substance use disorder is a complex problem brought by multiple factors, “people can recover from and manage their addiction with appropriate treatment and support.”

The psychologists' group cited in particular Portugal that has shifted to scientific evidence in approaching the drug problem. They said that the shift proved to be more effective in reducing deaths.

They also stressed that the public’s exposure to “tokhang” and vigilante-style killings “desentisizes them to violations of human rights and reinforces the view that the lives of innocent people are mere collateral damage.”

Two groups have challenged the government’s drug war before the Supreme Court, but the tribunal has yet to rule on the petitions.

READ: Highlights from the Supreme Court oral arguments on the drug war

The International Criminal Court is also conducting “preliminary examination” over the communications sent to their tribunal on the killings under the Duterte government.