Equipping young people with the capacity to make informed and responsible choices remains central to building safer and more resilient communities. In line with this, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), in partnership with Manila Central University (MCU), conducted a Drug Abuse Prevention Seminar for first-year students as part of the university’s National Service Training Program (NSTP).
The activity engaged around 150 students from various disciplines, creating a space for grounded and evidence-based discussions on substance use prevention. Anchored on Section 42 of Republic Act No. 9165, which mandates the integration of preventive drug education in schools, the initiative reinforces the role of educational institutions as key partners in prevention.
MCU Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences – Dr. Dennis Illedan underscored the realities faced by today’s students, ranging from academic demands to social pressures, and highlighted the importance of accurateinformation in navigating these challenges. His message emphasized education not only as a means of academic growth, but as a foundation for sound judgment and personal responsibility.
The discussion, facilitated by the DDB’s Preventive Education, Training, and Information Division (PETID), then situated the role of the youth within the broader context of prevention. Drawing from the 2023 National Household Survey on the Patterns and Trends of Drug Abuse in the Philippines, the session underscored how peer influence remains a significant factor in shaping behavior, either increasing vulnerability or reinforcing protective factors among young people.
Mula sa talakayang ito, binigyang-diin ng sesyon ang mga konkretong paraan kung paano maisasabuhay ang pag-iwas, mula sa peer education at adbokasiya sa kampus, hanggang sa aktibong pakikilahok sakomunidad at pagsusulong ng malusog na pamumuhay. Sa ganitong mga hakbang, nagiging bahagi ang prevention ng pang-araw-araw na karanasan sa paaralan at komunidad.
#DangerousDrugsBoard #BagongPilipinas
