How truly prevalent is drug use in the Philippines?


[OPINION] How truly prevalent is drug use in the Philippines?
'The estimate that there were 1.8 million Filipino drug addicts is questionable and scientifically unsound'



 The prevalence and causes of drug use have been politicized in the Philippines. President Duterte painted a picture of a huge menace created by drug users: that is, drug users are engaged in violent crimes, killing innocent people and raping children; they engage in robbery, theft, and other property crimes to satiate their drug cravings; and that addicts roam the streets like “zombies” creating fear in the hearts of the general public. President Duterte also claimed that drug use has destroyed the fabric of the families and the communities where drug dealing and selling has been rampant. 

These dire pictures have been sold and bought by the public. Thus, President Duterte also easily sold the simple yet brutal solution: the strong use of police force to arrest and detain the drug users, and if they “fight back,” for the neutralization (killing) of the said “drug addicts.” These have resulted in at least 6,000 Filipinos killed at the hands of the police and another 25,000 or so Filipinos killed by unknown assailants. It has also translated to the extreme congestion of our already overcrowded jails.

The key issue here, however, is that very few studies have actually conducted a scientific inquiry to establish the prevalence of drug use in the Philippines. One survey study of school age students found that 1.8% of respondents admitted to drug use (defined as either marijuana or shabu use at least once in their lifetime) which was then used to extrapolate that 1.8 million of the 100 million Filipinos used drugs. 

This extrapolation is erroneous on so many fronts. For example, at least 20 million Filipinos are still in pre-school, so they should have not been included in the extrapolation. Also, taking drugs at least once does not indicate regular drug use. Thus, the estimate that there were 1.8 million Filipino “drug addicts” is questionable and scientifically unsound. 

Link: https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-how-truly-prevalent-drug-use-philippines/

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