MANILA, Philippines – About 1.7 million Filipinos are addicted to shabu, marijuana, and other dangerous drugs, and 1,189 of them are undergoing treatment in rehabilitation centers, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board.
The figures are based on the results of a survey conducted by the Philippine Normal University.
DDB vice chairman Paul Oaminal said of the 1,189 treated at rehabilitation centers, 252 are outpatients, 775 are new arrivals and 162 have been re-admitted.
“One of the pillars of the war against drugs is the rehabilitation of drug dependents,” he said.
“Aside from supply reduction which is the neutralization of syndicates, arrest of pushers and dismantling of shabu laboratories, a vital key in the war against drugs is rehabilitation.”
“Yet it is has to be admitted that this is one aspect the government must give priority. If we could just rehabilitate half of those drug dependents and put them off the streets, it would remarkably affect the drug trade.”
Oaminal urged parents and relatives of drug dependents to have them admitted to rehabilitation centers.
The community must be informed that an addict needs medical or psychological intervention in rehabilitation centers, he added.
Oaminal said the public must demand that local chief executives continue supporting rehabilitation centers since the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 clearly states the local government’s role in the anti-drug war.
Stories of alleged ineffectiveness of rehabilitation centers are made by the pushers to discourage families of addicts to have them rehabilitated, he added.
Oaminal lauded governors and other officials consistently supporting and enhancing rehabilitation centers like the Luntiang Paraiso Rehabilitation Center in New Corella, Davao del Norte and Negros Oriental Rehabilitation Center in Dumaguete.
Shabu remains the most abused drug in the country, followed by marijuana, according to former DDB chairman Vicente Sotto III. –Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star)
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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