LAST WEEK of May, 2008 Subic authorities confiscated 700 kilos of shabu worth at least four billion pesos. If every kilo is divided into four parts and distributed to drug dens of addicts throughout the country, the stuff can supply 2,800 drug dens.

There are two kinds of substance abuse that destroy our young people - alcohol and drugs. The 1961 United Nations (UN) Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, however, cited prohibited drugs as more harmful than alcohol.

Thus, we have RA No. 9165, better known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, designed to safeguard the well-being of the citizenry especially the youth from the harmful effects of drugs.

It overhauls the 30-year-old Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 and the new law increases the penalties for violators. However, it also gives emphasis on rebuilding lives through rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts.

People hooked on drugs are emboldened to commit crime to satisfy their wants. In some cases addicts steal, others kill in order to produce the amount to purchase the stuff needed by their bodies.

No wonder the number of petty crimes increases every year. There were also reports of heinous crimes which remain unsolved to date. The growing figures propelled Department of Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez Sr. to declare war against drug lords.

With intelligence data at hand, Sec. Gonzalez directed PRO6 Regional Director, C/Supt. Isagani Cuevas to conduct an investigation on some suspect police personnel involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.

With coordination from S/Supt. Roybel Sanchez, regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6), PRO6 was able to identify the number of drug lords in Western Visayas and their police protectors on payola.

A random drug test called for some police officers in Camp Delgado last month resulted to the findings that six out of nine personnel are positive for the use of illegal drugs. I hope RD Cuevas have a heart not to put them in line for ceremonial-chopping!

But this is not only what we are looking for. School classes have already started. We fear that many young students will soon be affected as school campuses are now the target of drug pushers as principal market.

Police visibility and non-stop raids of drug dens of addicts have reduced the supply of illegal drugs in the city. But night-life is tempting that clubs, restaurants and coffee shops doing 24 hours business are now suspected havens of addicts where the use of illegal drugs usually takes place.

Under Sec. 7 of RA 9165, the alibi of being a mere visitor of a drug den cannot excuse one from arrest. Worse, if tried and convicted, the penalty ranges from 12 years and one day to 20 years imprisonment and P100,000 to P500,000 fine.

Again, under Sec. 6 of the same law, owners of boarding houses must take a careful step in accepting boarders. Addict-boarders may use their rooms as drug dens and once discovered and raided, a boarding house owner faces the risk of life imprisonment or death.

Even if the prosecution is yet to prove that such intent on the part of the owner is to use the property for such purpose, still, he shall be included as an accused in the criminal charges. Here, too much time, money and efforts are wasted in attending the case.

And here’s for the heart. Pursuant to the related rules and regulations as contained in the school’s student handbook and with notice to the parents, students of secondary and tertiary schools shall undergo random drug testing at the expense of the government.

Those tested positive shall be suspended until the parents can present a medical record that the student was fully rehabilitated. For addicts, there’s no easy way to transfer school as the new school requires transferees to submit a clearance from the school where he came from. No clearance, no entry!

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