Reforms sought in addressing substance abuse in PH
Dr. RJ Naguit of the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP) tells The Manila Times that there is a need to recalibrate how substance abuse is addressed in the country, saying current policies aimed at addressing the issue are 'outdated.' Naguit made the statement during a forum in Quezon City on Oct. 25, 2025.
VIDEO BY ALLEN LIMOS
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00:50Maraming tayong mga scientific studies na nagsabi ngayon na nagbibigis atin ang mas updated na information about substance use.
00:57Maraming na rin mga public health interventions na nakita nilang effective sa ibang mga bansa.
01:02At nakita rin natin na hindi na rin proportionate yung intervention or yung penalties na linanagay doon sa mga substances na meron tayo ngayon.
01:13So, yun, updated siya because of those. And I think, ano rin siya, it doesn't reflect yung gusto nating approach na public health and human rights.
01:23Kasi as of now, kung titignan natin yung mga implementors nung batas, it's more of the law enforcement na nag-init ng center stage when we talk about substance use.
01:34So, kailangan mas maging clear. Ano ba yung role ng health sector? Ano yung role ng social welfare?
01:40DSWD, napakalaking role nila in terms of case management.
01:43So, yung mga ganon, kailangan makonsider siya. And kung titignan rin natin yung law, very focused siya on prevention and rehabilitation.
01:54Pero ang dami kasing ano eh, parang iba't ibang approaches, no? From prevention, treatment, harm reduction, no?
02:01Na hindi nakita ngayon doon sa batas. And I think, isa yun sa mga reasons kung bakit hindi rin nakakapagbigay ng adequate support yung mga tao at yung mga agencies natin.
02:10Kasi, hindi siya nakareflect doon, no? So, nakakalungkot kasi parang may mga gustong tumulong, pero hindi sila nabibigyan ng opportunity para makatulong.
02:20Dahil nga, it's very criminalized, no? Kahit nga yung pagdala ng mga paraphernalia or needle exchange programs, para mabawasan yung risk ng mga taong nag-i-inject ng drugs,
02:30hindi siya allowed, no? Because of that law. So, I think yun isa sa mga opportunities that we can explore.
02:36But moving forward, how can we make sure na we integrate those nuances sa calls natin to, I guess, i-update yung batas?
02:48Siguro, kailangan una natin tignan kung ano yung process natin of developing the policy, no?
02:54Kasi it begs the question of who is the expert when we talk about drug policy, di ba?
02:59So, usually yung nagdominate naan sa conversation, yung mga people in law enforcement, no?
03:05Kasi traditionally, sila yung parang nakasenter sa kanila yung kapangyarihan.
03:09We talk about substance use, no?
03:11Tapos, pangalawa, sometimes it's also led by people in the medical field, di ba?
03:18For some, they might see na, it's a good way, no?
03:22Na may integrate natin yung mga health-based approaches.
03:25But at the same time, feeling ko, maliban dun sa mga perspectives coming from our technical experts,
03:30kailangan natin ma-recognize yung expertise ng mga people with lived experience, no?
03:35Yung mga people who use drugs.
03:36Kasi sila mismo yung pinaka nakakatukoy kung ano ba yung kailangan nila, no?
03:40Ano yung mga changes doon sa batas na dapat mabago natin.
03:45So, once we include them doon sa process, no?
03:49I think pas magiging parang health and human rights-based oriented drug policy.
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