The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has adopted a three-pronged strategy in the war against illegal drugs.
Director general Aaron Aquino said the three prongs are supplying reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction.
“Cognizant of the rapidly changing landscape of the drug problem in the country, integrated and holistic approaches must be employed to achieve a maximum impact to be felt by the Filipino citizenry,” he said.
According to Aquino, to complement the robust drug law enforcement efforts, PDEA continues to lessen the drug dependence problem by providing anti-drug education and information to the public to enable them to make informed decisions about drugs.
“Alongside raising drug awareness, PDEA, through the inter-agency committee on anti-illegal drugs, ensures the treatment of drug users either in residential and community-based rehabilitation centers. After treatment, reformers will undergo the social rehabilitation phase. This will provide them employment opportunities and regain their dignity and place in our society,” he said.
“Communities must take collective action in fighting the drug menace. Continued development at the grassroots level will help alleviate poverty, promotes economic prospects resulting in people’s engagement in meaningful social structures. These proved useful in addressing the root cause of drug use,” he noted.
“The three-pronged approach of the national anti-drug campaign are vital elements in building drug-resistant communities. Knowing fully well that the drug problem is a multi-faceted menace, PDEA has crafted anti-drug strategies in holistic approaches that will help us win the war against drugs,” he said.
