Philippines 2016

Where addiction starts

Carnage.
These past few months, 3213 of people have been killed in the
#WarOnDrugs. 1910 incidents of extrajudicial killings have surfaced alongside
these. Of which 1606 of cases are still under investigation, while 191 cases are
solved (with the suspect arrested) and 113 (with the suspect still at large). (Source:
Rappler)
The death toll for these extrajudicial killings are expected to rise over the
months given no signs of slowing down. Are we just going to stand still and let this
wave of violence sweep the country off of its feet? What if we just introduce a new
light into the way we look at drugs?
Everybody inherently has human rights. The right to live. Freedom of
expression. The right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Every single one
of these individuals discarded as a statistic in the #WarOnDrugs were given no
regard for their entitlement of the basic human rights. And it is our utmost
responsibility to seek justice where it must be served.
The road to the eradication of drugs in the country is a noble cause, and is
commendable of the present administration. Although we can respectfully admit,
that there are certainly better and more humane ways of tackling this current
predicament.
The cause behind drug addiction isnt simply the chemical hook itself. It is the
lack of connection within their respective social circles that they are unable to
express themselves which leads them to create a bond, that they were not able to
form with people, with drugs. Take for example Portugal, where drugs have been
decriminalized and drug addiction has been tagged as a public health issue rather
than a criminality. They primarily give drug users an environment where they are
free from discrimination and given the appropriate support, treatment, and therapy
that they need in order to reconnect with the world and their feelings. Since then
over 50% of drug use through injections have fallen, addiction rates have fallen, and
only 3 drug overdose deaths have occurred for every 1,000,000 citizens compared
to the EU average of 17.3 per million.
Instead of giving these troubled individuals the chance to make reforms on
how they live their lives, they are stigmatized and given no opportunity and
appropriate resources to recover.
Humans are social and bonding beings, with the need to connect and to love
in order to feel satisfied with their respective situations in life. If we just doled out
this type of support within the country, wed surely significantly lessen drug usage
within itself and see happier communities rise from the madness we have found
ourselves in right now.

Violence will beget a culture of hatred and continue the cycle of drugs that
we have tried so hard to stop. Why dont we just start acting like human beings and
start caring for one another? Look out for those close to you, deepen your
connections, and together, maybe then we can see a community that is addictionfree.