The Co-Drug Dependents Among Us

In 2008, the Dangerous Drugs Board under the leadership of its then Chairman now Senator Vicente C. Sotto III conducted a survey on the drug dependency of the country. It was found out that there were about 1.7 million estimated drug users.

As Vice Chairman, I said to Senator Sotto that despite the more than a million of drug users, still the majority of the Filipinos are not into illegal drugs, but this is what struck me; Senator Sotto said “yes”. Only a minority of the Filipinos are using illegal drugs, but the problem is that majority of those who are not using drugs end up as CO DEPENDENTS.

CO DRUG DEPENDENTS, are persons who do not use drugs, but these people allow or tolerate or even support the drug dependent. A classic example is a father who repeatedly buys back the items or things pawns or sold by drug addict son. The things were sold by the son for him to buy shabu. Another is a mother who covers the acts of theft committed by his child drug addict.

Another classic example which is getting worse is a wife, who covers the addiction of his husband. This wife often is the stumbling block of the rehabilitation of her husband. The common profile of these wife co drug dependents, are that they are often abused, either physically or emotionally.

In fact the biggest reason why drug dependents are not being treated for rehabilitation is because of the family members who are CO DRUG DEPENDENTS. They easily allow themselves to become victims of the lies of the drug dependent. It is usually the mother who ends up demanding that her son or daughter be released from rehabilitation because the child is already rehabilitated (according to what the addict says, despite the fact that he/she is still a drug dependent).

There are many elected and appointed public officials whose sons and daughters are drug addicts are the number one protectors and justifiers of the drug addiction of their children. It is the CO DRUG DEPENDENTS who makes the drug dependents bold and continue to survive. The CO DRUG DEPENDENTS are like the water of the ponds for the fish, without the water the fish would surely die, the same so, if family members would decide no longer to be CO DRUG DEPENDENTS then DRUG DEPENDENTS would
surely stop.

Yes it is true, only a minority of us are drug users, but it is the majority of us, who allow themselves to become CO DRUG DEPENDENTS that makes the problem worse. The feeling of guilt or shame should be properly rationalized, that parents or family members of drug dependents should not blame themselves but should do something for the drug dependency of their family member.

If you have a family member who is drug dependent, stop from being a victim of the addiction of your relative. The other forms of CO DRUG DEPENDENCY are feeling of fear of the wrath or anger of the drug addict. How could this be addressed? Inform the police, and do not hesitate to have him arrested and prosecuted for the crime.

As to  help the CO DRUG DEPENDENTS and for them to overcome this struggle, you may call the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention or COSAP at telephone number 232-6711. We are organizing a group and a program for the Co Drug Dependents, to help them from being continually victims of the drug dependency of their family member.

Sometimes LOVE should be properly applied, and it does not mean that if you prosecute or allow the force of the law applied to your loved ones it does not mean that you do not love him/her.

Sometimes, it takes TOUGH LOVE to truly love your love ones, but in the end, the greatest LOVE OF ALL is LOVING YOURSELF. You cannot truly love other people if by loving others you hurt yourself. A mother, father, wife, husband, son or daughter should stop allowing himself/herself from being a CO DRUG DEPENDENT. Love your loved ones from having a drug dependent rehabilitated of his addiction.

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.