Gatchalian, Sotto want drug abuse prevention program in Grades 7-12 subjects

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a bill that aims to integrate a drug abuse prevention program in Grades 7 to 12 subjects under the K to 12 Basic Education System.

Under Senate Bill No. 2236 or the Drug Abuse Prevention Program in Basic Education Act, which Gatchalian filed with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, all public and private basic education institutions will integrate a drug abuse prevention program in the subjects Health for Grades 7 to 10, Physical Education and Health for Grade 11, and Personal Development for Grade 12.

The proposed program seeks to discuss the following subjects: adverse effects of abuse and misuse of dangerous drugs; preventive measures; health, socio-cultural, psychological, legal and economic dimensions of the drug problem; available services for treatment and rehabilitation; and misconceptions on the use of dangerous drugs.

"Dahil sa mga pinsalang dinulot ng pandemya tulad ng kawalan ng trabaho, mas marami sa ating mga kababayan at mga kabataan ang nanganganib na masangkot sa iligal na droga. Kaya nais natin bigyan ang ating mga kabataan ng sapat na edukasyon upang hindi masira ang kanilang mga buhay," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report released in 2020 pointed out that because of rising unemployment and reduced opportunities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable and marginalized groups, including youth and women, are more prone to drug use, trafficking, and cultivation to earn money. Poverty and limited education also remain as factors in increased risk of drug use disorders, the report said.

Citing data from the Dangerous Drugs Board, the lawmakers noted that for the years 2017 and 2018, 27.32 percent and 28.14 percent of the population, respectively, who abused illegal drugs reached high school level.

The proposed measure also mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to collaborate with the Department of Health (DOH), the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and relevant non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen the implementation of the drug abuse prevention program. These same agencies will also be mandated to work together in establishing and providing capacity building and training courses for teachers on drug abuse prevention.

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Drug abuse prevention program para sa Grades 7-12 isinusulong ni Gatchalian at Sotto

Naghain si Senador Win Gatchalian ng isang panukalang batas na layong gawing bahagi ng mga subject ng Grades 7 hanggang 12 ang drug abuse prevention program.

Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No. 2236 o ang Drug Abuse Prevention Program in Basic Education Act na inihain ni Gatchalian at Senate President Vicente Sotto III, ang drug abuse prevention program ay magiging bahagi ng subject na Health mula Grades 7 hanggang 10, Physical Education at Health sa Grade 11, at Personal Development para sa Grade 12. Saklaw ng panukalang batas ang lahat ng pampubliko at pribadong paaralan sa ilalim ng basic education.

Tatalakayin sa panukalang programa ang mga susunod na usapin: ang negatibong epekto ng paggamit at pag-abuso sa iligal na droga; pag-iwas sa iligal na droga; mga aspetong pangkalusugan, sikolohikal, ligal, at pang-ekonomiya na pang-aabuso sa droga; paggamot at rehabilitasyon; at mga maling paniniwala sa paggamit ng iligal na droga.

"Dahil sa mga pinsalang dulot ng pandemya tulad ng kawalan ng trabaho, mas marami sa ating mga kababayan at mga kabataan ang nanganganib na masangkot sa iligal na droga. Kaya nais natin bigyan ang mga kabataan ng sapat na edukasyon upang hindi masira ang kanilang mga buhay," pahayag ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Ayon sa World Drug Report ng United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) na inilabas noong 2020, ang mga marginalized groups, kabilang ang mga kabataan at kababaihan, ay mas nanganganib na masangkot sa paggamit at pagtulak ng droga upang kumita. Ito ay dahil sa kawalan ng trabaho na epekto ng COVID-19 pandemic. Ayon pa sa ulat, ang kahirapan at kakulangan sa edukasyon ay itinuturing na maaaring maging dahilan sa mas mataas na panganib ng paggamit ng iligal na droga at mga komplikasyon nito.

Tinukoy ng mga mambabatas ang datos ng Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), kung saan lumabas na mahigit dalawampu't pitong (27.32) porsyento ng mga gumamit o nasangkot sa iligal na droga ang nakaabot sa high school noong 2017 at mahigit dalawampu't walong (28.14) porsyento naman noong 2018.

Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, makikipag-ugnayan ang Department of Education (DepEd) sa Department of Health (DOH), DDB, at iba't-ibang non-governmental organizations (NGOs) upang paigtingin ang pagpapatupad ng drug abuse prevention program. Magiging mandato rin ng mga ahensyang ito ang pagbibigay ng training courses sa mga guro para sa drug abuse prevention.

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