Pubdate: Fri, 12 Aug 2005
Source: Sunstar Manila (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2304
Author: MSM
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

2M WORKERS ARE DRUG USERS: LABOR

AT LEAST 2 million Filipino workers are hooked into illegal drugs, the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported Thursday.

The labor department cited a 2004 National Household Survey conducted
by the National Statistics Office (NSO), which showed that there are
6.7 million Filipinos who are into substance abuse and 30 percent of
them are workers.

The study also showed that majority of the drug dependents are in
their productive years and living in the National Capital Region (NCR).

"The average age of a Filipino drug abuser is 25 years old, employed,
lives in urban areas and has an average monthly income of P4,726," the
study said.

Labor Undersecretary Manuel Imson said the number of workers hooked
into drugs is alarming and should be immediately resolved to prevent
it from growing.

Citing Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) data, Imson said from 1996 to 1999,
the number of drug users in the country doubled from 1.7 million in
1996 to 4 million in 1999 and then it went up to 6.7 million in 2004.

"A large majority of the persons engaged (in illegal drugs) are found
within the ages of 18 to 35 years old. More alarming is that in all
cases admitted for drug treatment and rehabilitation in the year 2004,
33 percent were employed," Imson said.

Imson said the effects of substance abuse is no longer confined to the
individual but to the other members of the family are affected as well
as his job.

"Substance abuse frequently plays a major role in disrupting family
relationships and it is the cause of sexual assault, violence,
accidents and deaths," Imson added

Imson urged employers to adopt a system that would eradicate drug
addition in the workplace.

He said there is a need to address the drug problem because a
workplace is considered the second home of a worker.

Imson also said efforts should not only be geared toward providing a
safe workplace but also training those who will see to it that their
workplace is drug-free. 
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