Jasmin C. Damian 12- St.

Ignatius of Loyola
Geo San Jose November 06, 2019

OVERCOMING DRUG ADDICTION

Drug addiction is on increasing problem in today’s society. It can either help us or destroy
us from achieving our goals or dreams in life. People sometimes feel they are too bright, too
powerful, too much in control to become addictive however, addiction can trap anyone. It can lead
to harming one’s body, causing problems in the personal family and also in societies and the
communities. Drug is the best thing that will ruin your life. It is the hardest trouble of the
government and the worst problem of our country. Drug addiction is not only a domestic problem
but also a worldwide issue. Its rapid increase from being the cause and effect of the problem is one
of the main reasons of the unstable and slow development of the country. Rampant consumption
of illegal drugs and criminal acts related to drug addiction are some of the major problems faced
by the Philippine society. Drug abuse causes multiple problems for countries and communities.
The medical and psychological effects are very obvious. Addicts cannot function as normal
members of society. They neglect or abuse their families, and eventually require expensive
treatment or hospitalization. The second effect is on crime. Huge police resources are needed to
fight smuggling and dealing. Criminal gangs’ underworlds develop with the money from drugs.
The Philippine government is fully aware of the frighteningly increasing cases of drug
abuse within the country; thus, it has been very rigid in the fight against the cause. Philippines are
currently experiencing extreme political climates of the last century. President Rodrigo Duterte is
fighting an alleged “war on drugs” on his own people by purging anyone who they believe to have
a connection with drugs. Most of the drug users in the Philippines are young people. Illegal drugs
that are present include marijuana, LSD, opiates, and barbiturates. Since Rodrigo Roa Duterte
became the president, his brutal campaign against drugs has claimed thousands of lives.
Human rights groups say he is guilty of crimes against humanity, yet that is inadequate comfort
to those mourning loved ones. In a bid to reduce the illegal drug trade, a campaign of drug
prohibition, military intervention, and military aid was established. It includes effective drug
policies that are designed to discourage distribution, consumption, and production of psychoactive
drugs that were made illegal by participating government. While declaring war on drugs seems to
be logical, opponents think it might be a waste of time and resources. Some claim that criminal
acts are a consequence of drugs being declared illegal. Because people can’t acquire these
substances through official channels, they will resort to illegal production, distribution and
consumption.
Duterte’s drug war is proving to one of the most deadly events in the Philippines in years.
Included in the policies of war on drugs is the penalty that will be afforded to manufacturers,
distributors and users of illegal drugs. The level of punishment that will be imposed depends on
the gravity of the crime. Knowing that there are consequences to be paid will make people think
twice before embroiling in any stage of the illegal drug trade. But many are starting to question
Duterte’s legitimacy as a leader, and are beginning to wonder if he is conducting the war on drugs
because he believes that his solution is best for the Philippines, or because he is abusing his power
in order to exert his control over the population. Duterte’s response to the drug war stems from
both dealing a real crisis while simultaneously expanding his own personal power. Duterte’s drug
war has also prompted external examination by human rights organizations due to extrajudicial
killings of individuals within poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Most individuals who are executed
in the streets during the crackdown are breadwinners of their family, resulting in the difficulty of
the remaining family members, mainly poor women and children to financially support
themselves. With porous maritime borders, the presence of non-state armed groups, collusion of
corrupt officials and a climate conducive to the cultivation of opium, the country runs the risk of
sliding into a narco-state. The drug trade sustains the production of rebel, terrorist and criminal
outfits.
President Duterte has been a politician for a long time and his love for his people and his
country. He originally started the war on drugs because he saw how much this crisis was hurting
his people. Duterte believed that wiping the drug trade off the map entail wiping the people
involved off as well. The war on drugs has received a high level of popular support from across
the class spectrum in the Philippines but it led to the deaths of over 12,000 Filipinos to date, mostly
urban poor. They believe on what they believe is right and we need to cooperate according to their
plan. While Filipinos are increasingly concerns about the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects
and are becoming fearful for their own safety, surveys show that Duterte continues to enjoy popular
support. These dissonant figures oppose the simplistic idea that Filipinos are uncritically
supportive of the war on drugs. Despite the intensely polarized debates, however, there is actually
common ground and strong agreement within the Philippines that the drug problem needs to be
addressed.
The Philippines are actually trying to do what needs to be done to win the War on Drugs
through enforcement. But in our opinion, it may be a solution to address the problem about drug
addiction in our country but the War on Drugs has been an abject failure, and all attempts to prevent
competent adults from getting access to recreational drugs have caused more harm than good,
stretching back into antiquity, including most notably caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Historically,
if and when public policy objectives switch from "stamping out drug use" to mitigation of the
harmful effects of recreational drug use, progress is usually obvious and dramatic. Unfortunately,
if we have learned anything from history, it is that we have learned nothing from history.
There are of course the obvious points that it hasn't reduced drug use or demand, that it
hasn't disrupted the supply of drugs, that it costs vast sums of money we cannot afford, that it props
up and enriches violent criminal gangs and international cartels that are actual threats to the public
and to the security of nations, that it has packed our prisons and jails to the breaking point with
nonviolent drug addicts and low-level dealers, and that it inherently seeks to police personal private
behavior and choice that in itself doesn't harm other people. But beyond those obvious facts that
alone already prove the war is a failure, let's consider some points often forgotten when weigh the
true consequences of the war on drugs. The war on drugs has made drugs themselves less safe, has
made the criminals more violent, and has caused society to therefore suffer massive health care
and mental health problems while also increasing the threat of violence and death for the public at
large. We are not totally against about it. Actually, as a Filipino citizen, personally believe that the
Duterte Administration is doing well for the past few years. Regardless of the killings, the protests,
and everything-this administration is doing well unlike the past administration.
 The war on drugs can be seen as one of the solution to eliminate drug users, but for us,
there are also possible solutions to address this kind of problem. Although the problem of drugs
may seem impossible to eliminate, there are concrete steps that can be taken to weaken the hold of
drugs on society. The danger from drugs is too great to ignore. We must act now to save our
society. What can we do? Education and information. Our children make major health decisions
before they are 12 years old: whether to smoke, to drink or to use drugs. Information on drugs and
alcohol must be communicated early and effectively, through knowledgeable teachers who
understand the gateway that leads from experimentation to dependency. Drug education in primary
school is essential, and all teachers, not just science teachers, should reinforce this information.
Many who have experienced the “War on Drugs” first-hand have agreed that rehabilitation,
welfare and income-generation programs remain the only feasible solution to eradicate drug use
in the Philippines. The government can also promote economic equity with these programs by
alleviating Filipinos from extreme poverty. The poor would be able to afford food instead of
relying on drugs for mental and physical sustenance, driving drug prices down. This would then
prompt drug suppliers to stop their drug-related activities due to diminishing revenue, an outcome
far more desirable for the government and people of the Philippines.

There’s already a solution for it but we, Filipinos, still find ways to see little holes and
cracks about our government’s actions about the said problem. We can find a way to improve
physical evidence gathering. One of the reasons why criminals in general and drug pushers and
drug lords in particular are always acquitted is because the police rely too much on rumor evidence
that is easily taken apart by lawyers. We must also improve good old fashioned police intelligence
gathering. The government should also weed out bad cops. Easier said than done, but private
companies can do this, despite our bad labor laws and powerful unions. We must also find a way
to improve the justice system. Cases drag for decades. Government should ask the help of the
community. I don’t know if it’s too much to ask of the government, but a good grassroots program
will help a lot. Also, plug the holes. This involves customs, coast guard, even the navy. Seems
hopeless, I know. But with coordination with other police agencies and the Interpol, I’m sure they
can catch a few here and there. One of the possible way also is to improve education, promote
family planning and birth control because most drug addicts come from dysfunctional families.
Government should have a random drug testing. Have this as a requirement of annual physical.
Those who fail are fired. This should discourage users and minimize addicts in the workforce.
Same goes for schools. Improve or encourage rehab programs. Cover them with PhilHealth. There
is hope for addicts. They are people too. Killing “addicts,” We believe, is not a solution. Such a
shortcut has failed in other country that has tried it. What we need are complex, evidence-based
solutions for a complicated problem.