MARIJUANA: 'DRUG OF CHOICE' AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

CEBU, Philippines - Dangerous Drugs Board vice chairman Paul Clarence
Oaminal reported that the ongoing random drug testing among high
school students reveals that marijuana is their drug of choice.

Results of the testing conducted from February 4, 2009 up to September
2, 2009 show that out of the 12,909 students tested, 30 turned out to
be positive for drug use. Of those who turned out to be positive, 28
were tested positive for the use of marijuana, while the other two
were positive for shabu.

In December 2009, the number of students that were found positive for
drug use rose to 72, with 70 positive for marijuana use.

Oaminal believes high school students prefer marijuana because of its
accessibility and affordability.

This is further accentuated by myth that marijuana is medicinal and
has no side effects or ill effects, which should be addressed by
school authorities and the community, the DDB official added.

The random drug testing covered the regions of Central Visayas,
National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative
Region, Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula and Caraga Administrative
Region.

Preventive and demand reduction advocates of the Department of
Education, PDEA, PNP and the Dangerous Drugs Board must educate the
youth that marijuana has no medicinal purpose and that it has ill
effects that destroys the mind and the body.

Marijuana is declared by law as dangerous drugs because it is a
scientific fact that it is addictive, abuse has ill effects just like
shabu and other illegal drugs.

According to DDB, myth propagated by old-timers that marijuana
sniffing has no ill effects and even serves to restore appetite is
totally erroneous. The reason why marijuana users crave for food is
because it is destroying one's stomach.

Areas in the country identified as marijuana plantations like Benguet,
Balamban of Cebu and San Fernando of Bukidnon has been changed to
abaca plantations and silkworm industry.

This year, it is expected that the random drug testing for high school
conducted by Department of Education in coordination with the
Department of Health will go full swing, while the Commission on
Higher Education has initially started testing college students.