First anti-drug summit - ROSES AND THORNS By Alejandro R. Roces

Last Tuesday, the First National Anti-Drug Summit convened and it started with the presentation of an alarming drug situation in our country today. According to figures presented, no less than one and a half million Filipinos are drug users! The summit concluded with the launching of "Kilos Bayan Laban sa Droga (Kill Droga)", of Operation Private Eye and the signing of a National Anti-Drug Program of Action.

All these are great. But the truth is that, even more than jueteng, drug-use is rampant in the country because men in high office are behind the smuggling, production and dissemination of drugs. The only thing that will stop the spread and use of drugs is the arrest and conviction of these people.

If there are one and a half million drug-users in the country, then it means that great number of people know where to get drugs for their daily use. Is it possible that what is common knowledge to a million and a half people is not known to the police? Yet, how often do you read or hear about a drug distributor that has been arrested? The truth is that the police have been closing their eyes to the problem. The blindest persons are those who do not want to see.

They say that a million and a half drug-users mean that one and a half million lives have already been destroyed. It is much worse than that. To lead a useless life is one thing. To live a life of crime is another. The million and a half drug users cannot contribute anything to their country. Not only can they not find any useful employment, but also have to steal to maintain their deadly vice. They are people who have to be saved from themselves. And that is an awesome task. Imagine rehabilitating a million and a half drug addicts! We can’t even provide homes for our street children. The street children are products of broken homes, single parents and poverty. They are victims of neglect. Dope addicts are victims of themselves.

The only thing that will resolve our frightening drug situation is the arrest of the people in high office that are making billions ruining the lives of their countrymen and the nation itself. Till this happens, all anti-drug summits, programs and campaigns will be just a cover-up for the real problem.

Unlike the Abu Sayyaf problem, the drug problem is not making headline stories. But it is doing even more damage to the country. The Abu Sayyaf is a problem for our Armed Forces. The drug menace is a police problem. And they can’t see the forest on account of the trees.