These are some of the commonly abused drugs in the Philippines. Recently, the drug problem is quite alarming.The increasing number of arrested drug traffickers, seizures of big volumes of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals and dismantling of clandestine laboratories since the conception of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency show the extent and impact of the drug abuse and drug trade problem in the Philippines.
The illegal trade of methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as "shabu" has grown into a P1 billion-a-day industry, but the drug has now become more expensive, making it “the poor man’s cocaine no more,” antinarcotics officials and international drug reports said. Recently, the average street price of "shabu" in the Philippines ranges from P15,000.00 - P17,000.00 depending on the demographical location (regional, provincial, city, or municipal). The increase of prices of shabu was due to the government success on dismantling of clandistine laboratories nationwide.
Thus, these problems don't limit on trafficking and production of drugs but go beyond the problem of drug addiction. Drug addiction is the cradle of heinous crimes committed by persons. 65% of the suspects are drug addicts. Drug addiction respects no boundaries.
The worsening drug abuse in the country can be gleaned from the fact that in 1972, there were only 20,000 drug users in the Philippines. In 2004, this figure has climbed to an astounding 6.7 million. Methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" and marijuana are the illegal drugs preferred by one in every 29 Filipinos aged 10 to 44 years.
While drug abuse is alarming in the country, the government is strong fisted in the fight of eradicating the supply and demand of illegal drugs.Thus, drug lords, big time drug pushers and transnational syndicates are laughing their way to their banks using the "dirty money" which is the proceeds of illegal drugs and invest the money to legitimate businesses. They are having a field day destroying lives and future of the people courtesy of inutile and corrupt government agencies.
The law enforcers cannot do it alone.The prosecutors and judges cannot move on without harmonious relationship. The problem rest upon us. It starts within ourselves.
Schools, churches, civic organizations, non-government organizations and private groups and individuals must all do their share and contribute to the battle against illegal drugs.
This country cannot afford to waste its future to drug addiction. If the war on illegal drugs is lost, the future of the country will follow the wrong direction. Despite and in spite of the government, Filipinos must remain resolute in their resolve to win the war against illegal drugs.
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