Drug addiction is a behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that was developed after continuous intake of legal or illegal substances, including alcohol, regardless of the harmful consequences. 2. According to the report of UNODC in 2014, the number of users is about five percent (5%) of the world population. 3. In the Philippinesn, the most abused drugs was methampethamine hydrochloride (shabu) followed by cannabis sativa (marijuana), and then ecstasy. 4. Location wise, drug users are most concentrated in NCR wherein 51.29% of users are residents in the area. Region IV-A followed with 16.84% then Region III with 14.45%. The Philippine Youth 1. Last 2011, UNODC reported that 210 million people used drugs and 211, 000 among them die in the same year; most of the deaths were in younger population. 3. In the Philippines, street-level trading is the most widespread drug distribution activity (PDEA, 2012). 4. The most notable cases were a six-year-old child who committed a drug offense last 2003, an eightyear old who used drugs, and babies used as drug mules to transport illegal drugs last 2013. This kind of new trends is very disturbing especially for the Filipino youth. 5. Case Study. In a study conducted by Njord, L. et al (2010), the drug use among Filipino street and non-street children were analyzed; participants include 311 street children and 528 non-street children with ages 13 to 17 years. The study analyzes street children with little or no contact with their families and street children with contact with their families to non-street children. Results show that street children with no contact with their families were two times more likely to smoke tobacco, 1.3 times more likely to drink alcohol, 36.7 times more likely to use inhalants, and 5.5 times more likely to use illegal drugs than the non-street children. In addition, street children who maintained contact with their families were 8.7 times more likely to use inhalants and two times more likely to use illegal drugs; tobacco and alcohol use between street children who maintained contact with their families and non-street children shows no significant difference. In conclusion, Filipino street children are at greater risk of abusing drugs and street children who do not maintain family contact is at greatest risk. An estimated population of 6.2 million street children or more in the country were at risk among youth (A Situationer of Street Children in the Philippines, 2003). Causes of Drug Addiction 1. Stress 2. Peer Pressure 3. Environment
4. Experimentation and Curiosity
Effects of Drug Addiction 1. 2. 3. Responses Against Drug Addiction (Government and Non-government) 1. Government Responses a. RA 6425 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 - Established DDB b. RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 - Established PDEA c. Programs and Campaigns - Barkada Kontra Droga (BKD, Peer Groups Against Drugs) - National Youth Congress on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control -National Drug Education Program (NDEP) - Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program - Kids Against Drug Program - Operation Private Eye - Drug Free Work Place Policy -Anti-Drug Operations 2. Non-Government Responses Katotohanan Foundation is one of the most active NGOs involved in drug prevention and control. The Foundation has engaged in activities in the pursuit of reducing drug problems in the country. Campaigns including Lakbay Kontra Droga, and the establishment of the Daytop International are some of the projects of the Foundation. The WHO is another NGO that helps Department of Health (DOH) in its campaign for treating drug users. Aside from the NGOs, there are many institutions and countries around the world that help the Philippines, many partnerships and programs have been collaborated by many international institutions especially across the region. Synthesis