Tuesday, September 09, 2008 Group notes decrease in drug dependency cases By Grace L. Plata
DRUG dependency cases in Davao City have decreased over the past year.
Though not citing specific numbers, Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council Chair Eliseo Braganza said one of the main indicators of the decline is the random drug testing done in 30 high schools on November 2007.
Out of the 2,300 students tested, only 30 resulted positive, 29 of them from marijuana use while only 1 case was related to shabu.
"Drug dependency in the city is quite controllable. Most of those tested marijuana ang gamit. Dati, sa isang school, halos 55 percent ang positive of shabu use," Braganza said in an interview Monday.
Braganza said the number of students tested was based on the student population data provided by the Department of Education (DepEd).
"We really made sure na makakakuha kami ng study samples na significant," Braganza said, adding that they are just waiting for the release of the funds to do the tests again for 2008.
Braganza said the decrease in cases, including those of adult users, continue until the present and can be attributed to the strengthened monitoring and prevention program of the city.
"Meron kasi tayong follow-through. Without it, criminals shrug off the cases filed against them. But we have been constant in the apprehension and prosecution of the cases despite the fact na isa lang ang designated drug court in the city," Braganza said.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Southern Mindanao Chief Glenn dela Torre, who was also present Monday, said the supply of shabu smuggled to the city also decreased but it is the active operations in the periphery that are causes of concern.
"We have the Madaum Drug Group in Tagum. Meron din sa Sta. Cruz, Digos, and Samal. Ito yung parang 'tyangge'. 'Yung ibang mga users dito sa city, 'dun pumupunta," dela Torre said.
Braganza said Adac is implementing programs that are aimed at stopping the "spillover" of these operations into the city. These include the creation of a database that identifies drug hot spots as well as movers in the city.
"Barangay 76-A is our pilot. We are committed to completing the database by the end of the year. Ito kasi and pinaka-problema na area so if we succeed in 76-A, it is easier to make it in the other barangay," Braganza said.
Through the help of the barangay anti-drug abuse councils, Braganza said information is collated and then confirmed.
Aside from this, the program is also geared towards urging the pushers to come clean.
"If we are able to identify them, we can talk to them so they will know they have choices. There are offers of alternative livelihood programs for them to stay out of the illegal drugs," Braganza said.
