PROFILE OF DRUG ABUSERS
(Facility based)
CY 2008

AGE : Mean age of 28 years
SEX : Ratio of male to female 9:1
CIVIL STATUS : Single
OCCUPATION : Unemployed
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT : High School
ECONOMIC STATUS:Average monthly family income P15,064.72
PLACE OF RESIDENCE : Urban (specifically NCR)
DURATION OF DRUG TAKING : More than six (6) years
NATURE OF DRUG – TAKING : Poly drug use**
DRUGS OF ABUSE : Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Shabu)
                                 Cannabis (Marijuana)
                                 Inhalants (Contact Cement Adhesive)

*Residential and Out-Patient Facilities

**Poly drug users –  abuse of more than one (1) drug

PROFILE OF DRUG DEPENDENTS

There were more male than female drug users with ratio of 9:1.  The youngest admitted case was aged 9 and the oldest, 70.  Majority were between 25 and 29 pegging the average age of drug dependents under rehabilitation at 28 years old.

Patients confessed of first experimenting on drugs at 15 to 19 years old, pointing to their peers as their primary source of illicit substance.  Regular pushers were relegated to secondary spot.

With regard to civil status, 57.23% were single; 25.16%, married; and 10.58%, with live-in partners.

As to occupational status, 33.92% were unemployed; 20.02%, workers; 9.78%, self-employed; and 9.27%, students.

Nearly 32% reached high school while 25.18%, college level.  Their average monthly family income was ₱15,064.72.

REPORTED CASES BY GENDER
(Facility – Based)
CY 2008

* Total Reported Cases from Residential and Out-Patient Facilities

DRUG TREATMENT AND REHABILTATION ADMISSIONS

Drug abusers come from all walks of life, from different ages and from varied social backgrounds.  In 2008, a total of 3,526 clients were admitted from both the residential and out-patient facilities nationwide.  Of this, 62% or 2,197 were new admissions, 16% or 564 were relapse or readmitted cases, and 22% or 765 were referrals from the out-patient centers.

The National Capital Region (NCR) showed the highest percent distribution of cases with 1,964 or 55.70% of the total admission nationwide.  Region IV-A (CALABARZON) and Region III (Central Luzon) followed with 14.49% and 13.90% admission percentage respectively.

MOST COMMONLY USED/ABUSED DRUGS/SUBSTANCES
(Facility Based)
CY 2008

* Total Reported Cases from Residential and Out-Patient Facilities

Methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” remained as the top drug of abuse with 2,408 cases (68.29%), followed by cannabis or marijuana with 1,700 (48.21%), and contact cement at 8.93% of the entire patient population.  The nature of drug taking was poly-drug use while the routes of administration were inhalation/sniffing and oral ingestion.

Admitted cases were down by 18% in 2008.  The decline may be attributed to:  1) financial constraints that confront families of drug users, 2) closure of some rehabilitation centers due to change in administration and some minor deficiencies that prevented them to operate, or sustain the operation, 3) stringent requirements for accreditation of centers by the Department of Health, 4) denial on the part of the family of drug dependents, and 5) relentless efforts of the government to eradicate the drug abuse problem.  This can be supported by the data on the increase of drugs seized and clandestine laboratories dismantled during the year.