On number of Pinoys hooked on drugs

This pertains to The Philippine STAR article entitled “DDB: 1.7M Pinoys hooked on drugs,” dated Nov. 14, 2012.

The undersigned wishes to clarify that the said estimate (of 1.7M dangerous drug users) was derived from the 2008 National Household Survey conducted by the Dangerous Drugs Board together with the Department of Interior and Local Government. The survey was conducted June to November of 2008 with a total of 12,714 respondents nationwide. Around 182 barangays were involved in the study. Out of the 12,714 respondents, around 322 were determined to be current users. This presents a prevalence rate of around 2.53%. When the prevalence is applied to the general population then (NSCB Projected Population back in 2008 is 67,868,076 Filipinos aged 10-84 years old), this will yield around 1.7M estimated users. The estimate is an improvement from the previous survey findings done in 2004 and 2001. The DDB is currently conducting the 2012 survey which would hopefully provide updated data on current drug use. The result of the 2012 Survey is expected to be finalized and released in 2013.

Deaths due to drug use data estimate of around 1,700 was also derived from the same number of users (1.7M) and the estimated death rate due to drug in the country of around 0.1%. However, it is very difficult to attribute the mortality to the use of illicit drugs as this is not usually reported as the primary or immediate cause of death.

Allow us to also mention that the article made an error in saying that the estimated number of drug users two years ago was only 200,000. The old approximation (of 200,000 users) was done more than 20 years ago, not two years ago, back during the time of President Marcos. The correct information should dispel perceptions that an increase of 1.5M users occurred in the span of only two years. As mentioned before, previous surveys have yielded higher estimates than the estimate in 2008.

Hoping that this communication can clear some issues raised by the said article. Had your reporter interviewed any of the DDB staff, a more accurate report would have been released. – Dr. BENJAMIN P. REYES, Assistant Secretary for Operations, Officer-In-Charge, DDB Secretariat