Sotto vows to solve country's drug problem

 Sotto vows to solve country's drug problem

BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya: Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd said he will spearhead the solving of the country's problem on illegal drugs if he becomes the vice president in 2022.

"There are many things that we can do like removing the government's headache on the problem of illegal drugs and drug abuse because this can be done by the vice president having the clout of the office of the vice president," said Sotto, running mate of presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson in the May 2022 elections.

Sotto said the program of the present government administration when it comes to illegal drugs is not focused on drug abuse.

"Illegal drugs and drug abuse are two different animals. Illegal drugs can be addressed by a supply reduction program, which the current administration has been doing, and that there is still much to be desired as far as prosecution is concerned," he said.

Sotto noted that the present administration's law enforcement on supply reduction has been done from day one, and this will not be successful if it will not be coupled with a very important demand reduction program.

"With a demand reduction program, it means that there is a need to have strong prevention and rehabilitation programs which have to be done nationwide," he said.

He explained that the prevention program can begin in the taught in Grades 5, 6 and 7 on subjects incorporated on drug abuse, or through workshops and seminars on resistance education programs.

"With this, and when these kids reach their majority age of 18, then they will know different kinds of drugs and its ill effects on their lives. They will come to know that their lives will be destroyed. They will know that their future will be shattered including their family and the future of their family," Sotto said.

He said this is the reason why there is a need for a demand reduction program.

"The office of the vice president can go around the country doing that. I did it when I was vice mayor of Quezon City, that is why I was able to bring down the drug cases in Quezon City, and from 54 percent to nine percent in the National Capital Region (NCR) as a result," Sotto said.

He said they were able to do it then in the NCR, and what is most needed now is the drug rehabilitation program.

"The government may be successful in law enforcement against illegal drugs, with prosecution being improved, but still these lack prevention. Therefore, many of our young are curious, addicted and there are many reasons why they fall prey," Sotto said.

He added that those who are already drug dependents needed to be rehabilitated, and then bring them back to society as useful and good citizens.

Sotto said the rehabilitation program of the government is pitiful because drug dependents are brought to the rehabilitation center, and after six months, they become well because they have been removed from the source, but after a while, they go back to where they were.

"Every drug dependent has a different profile from the next guy, so the rehabilitation center should profile them first, and find out whether the program is effective to the dependent, either therapeutic community program, a faith-based program, multidisciplinary program or 12 steps Minnesota program," he added.

Sotto said the rehabilitation center should profile the drug dependent and apply which program is best for them. He said there are only 58 rehabilitation centers nationwide and there are less than 20 which are accredited by the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, Sotto said that if Lacson also wins as president, it will be a council of two.

"There will be no decision-making to be done without them both agreeing," he said.

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