Pubdate: Mon, 30 May 2005
Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sun.Star
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690
Author: RHM
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

HELP FIND WORK FOR DRUG REHAB WARDS, COUNCILOR URGES

CEBU City's Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac) should have employment and
livelihood programs for reformed drug dependents as another strategy
to fight illegal drugs, a city councilor said.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, chairman of the committee on laws, said
former drug users often find it hard to get work because of the stigma
society has placed on them.

But with the support of private and non-government sectors, the City
can actually help them become productive citizens, Labella said.

A Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) report showed there are now an estimated
three million drug pushers in the country, compared to just 20,000,
mostly in Metro Manila, in 1972.

In the same report, the most number of drug users are found in the age
bracket 21 to 25 (30.75 percent), followed by 26 to 30 (20.09 percent).

In terms of occupation, the unemployed composed the majority (48.95
percent), followed by the self-employed (16.72 percent), students
(16.42 percent), out-of-school youths (13.13 percent) and those with
jobs (4.78 percent).

"Lifeline opportunities to reformed drug dependents would undeniably
prod the latter to actively participate in any legitimate endeavor,
which could lead to the betterment of themselves and their families,"
Labella said in a proposed resolution.

Under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, local government
units should assist in the rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents.

Also, Labella and members of his committee expressed reservations on
the ordinance creating the City Anti-Drug Trafficking and Drug Dens
Clearing Board, proposed by Councilor Augustus Pe, chairman of the
council committee on dangerous drugs.

More Concise

The committee noted that although the ordinance was simply to create
the board, it contained non-essentials, such as the procedure in
filing a complaint. It suggested that Pe's draft ordinance be made
more concise and relevant to its purpose.

But the committee agreed with the substance of the proposed measure,
which was in compliance with the Dangerous Drugs Law provision that
creates an administrative board to hear complaints on drug-related
issues.

The City Council last week approved the committee on laws report,
which recommended that Pe take into consideration the observations
made. 
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