A Message of Hope: Drug Abuse Disorder can be Preventable & Treatable

No to Marijuana Legalization: Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week 2014 Theme

Starting November 8, 2014, Cebu City will be observing the nation’s yearly Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week adopting the theme from the Dangerous Drugs Board.

There are those of us who brag that the only way to stop illegal drugs is to kill the peddlers and drug lords, boasting that they would do it themselves. I admire the boastfulness of these people, but in my experience those who announce their courage on the radio and in gatherings are usually the cowards and have no guts of killing someone.

My plea is that for all people of Cebu, that instead of just criticizing the PNP, PDEA, City Hall and almost everyone except themselves, let us show our zealousness in against illegal drugs by joining the activities of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control. Unfortunately, government agencies usually observe the Drug Abuse and Prevention Control Week by “TARPAULINE OBSERVANCE” that is done by simply hanging tarpaulins with the theme conceptualized by the DDB and distributed to the agencies through fax messages.

The Cebu City Anti Drug Abuse Council with the Cebu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention or COSAP has readied the following activities:

November 9: Mass at 8 a.m., Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
November 10: Motorcade, 8 a.m. Plaza Sugbo (after City Hall’s Flag Ceremony.
November 10: Press conference at 11:00 am., Mayors Conference Room.
November 10: Photo Exhibit, 2:00 pm @ SM Mall, 2nd Floor.
November 11: Slogan & Poster Making Contest, 8:00 a.m., @ Zapatera Elementary School.
November 12: Seminar on Drugs, Tanods @ Social Hall, City Hall.
November 13: Convention of Recovering Drug Dependents, Capitol Social Hall.
November 14: Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council or BADAC Oathtaking, City Hall.

And the finale, which is the most important is the Parade, this November 15, 2014, assembly time at 1:00 pm, Fuente Osmena, destination will be at Plaza Independencia.

Calling all people in Cebu to join the parade, if you are reading this, I hope that you will have the time and conviction to join the parade and show your stand against drugs. We should realize that the biggest enemy against illegal drugs is not the drug syndicates but it is the citizens who refuse to verbalize and put into action their stand against illegal drugs.

About the Author: Clarence Paul V. Oaminal is a lawyer and author of ‘The Textbook on The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’. He is the Vice-chairman and Undersecretary of the Dangerous Drugs Board and is the current adviser and presiding officer of Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council. He also hosts the local advocacy program ‘Krimen ug Drugas’ in CCTN Channel 47.

Image Credit: www.huffingtonpost.com