Illegal Drugs: The Battle is Within Our Homes, Not in the Streets

DRUGS AND CRIMES

The country has been waging war against illegal drugs since opium was introduced by the Chinese in the 1700’s. China was a victim of the narco-politics of the British Empire when it lost in the Opium War after Emperor Tao Kwang persecuted the British who were peddling opium in his country.

Three of the sons of the emperor died of overdose and as revenge, Tao Kwang went after the British. China however, lost and was forced to sign the treaty of Nanking, that aside from losing Hongkong, allowed the British to dock ships carrying opium in the ports of China.

The Chinese, aside from emigrating in our country, also brought with them opium. It was the Americans, when they took over colonizing our country, that declared the use and selling of opium as illegal. Since then, the drug of choice in our country and the world has changed. From opium to marijuana, to morphine, cough syrups, then to ‘shabu’, then ecstacy. Only the drug of choice changes but the drug dependency remains, as drug users also innovate and adapt to changes.

Our penal laws have been changed several times but admittedly the drug problem is getting worse. From simple parochial problem, it has become a national nightmare, with the government in the losing end. Why is this so? Simply because we are waging the war in the streets, stupidly thinking that the war against drugs could only be won in the streets. Our officials, including the populace, believe that to solve illegal drugs is to arrest drug pushers and drug manufacturers.

On September 24, 2004, the PDEA dismantled the biggest ‘shabu’ laboratory in Asia. In 2012, all those arrested including Calvin Tan, who was extradited from Hongkong, were convicted by the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 of Mandaue City, Cebu. I was so happy as I thought that my advocacy would have come to an end, yet weeks after, the supply of drugs in Cebu again became stable. Aside from going after these drug laboratories, we went after well-known drug suppliers, literally neutralizing them. Yet every time these people die, they are easily replaced.

We will never end the war against drugs, unless the country realizes that the battlefield against drugs is not in the streets but in our own homes. We need fathers and mothers who will win the war against drugs in their own homes. It is sad that many parents of drug users easily blame the government claiming that the government caused their children to become addicts. The typical parents of drug users, blames everyone, but never admit responsibility over the fate of their children. What this country needs are parents who will stand up for their children and defend their home against illegal drugs.

Winning the war within the household is the only way in winning the war against drugs. Frankly said, if there are no users there would never be sellers. The reason why the drug business exists is because there is a demand and market for drug pushers to supply.

Let us guard our homes, and take responsibility over our children, let us not expect our law enforcers to watch over them. If we just raise morally and mentally upright children, for sure, they will never fall to drug use. Let this be our motto: Drug Free Philippines, Begins with Me and My Family.

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.