Tuesday, September 09, 2008 Drugs board bats for more rehab centers
OVER the past years, several raids of suspected shabu laboratories and drug dens have been closed down by authorities, but establishment of rehabilitation facilities for drug users have been slow.
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Secretary Vicente Sotto III admitted lack of rehabilitation facilities hinder plans on addressing the drug problem.
He said the DDB is focusing on addressing rehabilitation of drug users. Plans on constructing government-run rehabilitation centers in every region are now in the pipeline.
Of the existing rehabilitation centers in the country, only 48 are government- accredited but most lack psychotherapists, psychologists, guidance counselors and other experts needed to assist drug users while undergoing treatment.
Sotto is hopeful that if more government rehabilitation centers are manned by professionals, half the problem on drug use will be addressed. This is apart from the expansion of intelligence efforts to eradicate shabu laboratories and marijuana plantations, two of the most abused drugs in the country.
Because the country has been identified as a trans-shipment point of drugs from China, Sotto said security has been doubled in entrance and exit points to ensure the contraband does not come in or are not shipped out of the country to be delivered to other parts of Asia.
International linkages have also been established. Sotto said the recent raids done on shabu laboratories are products of surveillance, not only by anti narcotics agents in the country but also by agents usually from the USA.
Livelihood packages are also made available in identified marijuana plantations.
Here in the Cordillera, silk production and anthurium and yacon propagation are promoted as alternative livelihood. This is aside from the infrastructure development done in farming communities where transportation of farm produce is difficult because of lack of infrastructure development. (RO)
