Presence of Drug Addicts in Neighborhood Scares Pinoys, PDEA Says

The presence of drug addicts in the neighborhood instills fear among a vast majority of Filipinos nationwide.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro S. Lapeña said this based on the Second Quarter Social Weather Survey (SWS) conducted from June 24-27, 2016. The survey, used face-to-face interview of 1,200 adult respondents (18 years old and above) throughout the country, 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“According to the survey, a record-high 82 percent of families living in Metro Manila are afraid of drug dependents in June 2016, compared to the 70 percent in April 2016. This is 17.3 points beyond the 64.8 percent average fear of drug addicts in 2015,” Lapeña said.

On the other hand, the average fear of drug addicts is 64 percent, 60 percent and 46 percent in June 2016, posted in Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, respectively. The SWS data collected, except for Mindanao, are all record-highs compared to the previous year and month.

The SWS survey also found 62 percent of families nationwide agreed with the statement, “In this neighborhood, there are already very many people addicted to banned drugs”- up by seven points from the previous high 55 percent in April 2016.  This is 13.7 points above the 48.3 percent average fear of drug addicts in 2015.

“Most heinous crimes, if not violent, are apparently fueled by illegal drug use. We have to suppress the drug supply and reduce the desire for it through effective rehabilitation and treatment programs. This should keep the citizenry feel safer from drug-related harms,” the PDEA chief said.

Based on the Stratified Triangulated Extrapolation on the Number of Drug Users in the Philippines, there are 3.7 million drug users, 1.8 million or 48.9 percent of those are abusing methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, 2.7 million are marijuana users, while other drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine comprises 0.24 million. (PDEA)