DrugWatch urges fresh grads to serve as models

The DrugWatch party-list group yesterday called on fresh graduates to help in the government’s campaign against drugs by serving as good role models for younger students.

DrugWatch nominees Reynaldo Jaylo and Susan Ople noted the growing number of young people addicted to "shabu" who have dropped out of school and resorted to a life of petty crime.

The two anti-drug crusaders expressed belief that the number of drug users in the country may have already surpassed the two million mark. "All government rehabilitation centers are full and some have even stopped admitting patients," DrugWatch officials claimed.

In her speech before youth leaders in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, Ople urged fresh graduates to say no to drugs despite overwhelming pressure from their peers.

"Our government rehabilitation centers are teeming with young people whose futures may have been destroyed by the drugs they took," Ople said.

The DrugWatch party-list officials urged the government to create a special summer program that would assign youth volunteers to various non government organizations.

"A massive summer outreach program would expose our young people to charity work and grassroots realities," Ople pointed out.

DrugWatch itself is looking for volunteers who would like to help in its anti-drugs education program.