With the way things are going, is there any drug addict who would dare say they don’t want to be in rehab?
Manila mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has ordered the chairmen of 896 barangays in the city to submit the lists of known and suspected drug users in their jurisdictions.
“He explained that the city government needs the lists to facilitate the counseling and rehabilitation program for drug dependents who want to change their ways,” reports Jose Rodel Clapano in The Philippine Star.
He has likewise directed the city’s Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council to come up with the lists of drug users who want to undergo rehabilitation.
“We have to treat these drug users because they are victims of the drug menace. We cannot win the war against illegal drugs if we don’t help drug dependents first,” Estrada stated.
Estrada’s intentions are good — but it’s going to be quite a challenge implementing what he calls “a comprehensive and community-based drug rehabilitation program” amid the growing number of drug dependents and pushers who have surrendered in the city.
To date, 10,174 have surrendered in the city, while 92 have been killed.
