Correcting stereotypes about drug users

In a recent interview that was published in Inquirer.net’s Facebook page, presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he cannot engage in drug use because “that kind of lifestyle, para lang ’yan sa mga walang ginagawa, walang trabaho.” He added that “if you expect to produce good work, hindi ka pwede sumailalim sa ganyang bisyo.” Nonetheless, he said he is in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, citing several studies.

I recommend that he read the 2018 study of Prof. Regina M. Hechanova Alampay of the Ateneo De Manila University. The study, “The Development of a Community-Based Drug Intervention for Filipino Drug Users,” was published by the Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology.

Let’s check his stereotypes:

“That kind of lifestyle, para lang ’yan sa mga walang ginagawa, walang trabaho.” In the study of Alampay, about half of the participants were employed in manual and contractual work, such as construction, electrical, and street-sweeping. Their primary reason for using drugs? Work-related, i.e., “Gives me more energy,” “I can work better.” These individuals are gainfully employed. They use drugs not for recreational purposes, like what Marcos implied. Instead, they use drugs to keep their energy levels high at work. This is understandable given that they are involved in manual labor.

“If you expect to produce good work, hindi ka pwede sumailalim sa ganyang bisyo.” In the same study, the oft-cited benefit of drug use was increased energy and productivity. Her study participants talked about energy trip that allowed them to work longer and harder.

On “bisyo,” only 14 percent of participants had scores indicative of full dependency and 39 percent had some symptoms. Close to half had even no symptoms of drug dependence. This shows that drug use per se will not lead to drug dependence. Let us move beyond these stereotypes about persons who use psychoactive drugs. It is unfortunate that the current drug war is built around these stereotypes. It has since led to the deaths of thousands of individuals without due process of law. The next administration should already shy away from these stereotypes as bases for its drug use policy, and, instead, embrace community-based programs that are based on sound research evidence.

REJINEL GAMBOA VALENCIA
[email protected]