The pioneering activity brought together 50 students discussing the Science of addiction, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the Amended Philippine Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, as well as interventions for Children in Conflict with the Law.
Jaffar Marohomsalic, Action Officer of the Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) told the City Information Office (CIO) that the program seeks to protect the youth from destructive choices and prepare them to make responsible decisions for themselves and their communities.
“We are hoping that they will learn a lot. They will realize that illegal drugs bring absolutely nothing good to them. And also, if they engage in these kinds of illegal activities, it will not just affect them but also their family, friends, and their community. So, that is what we want to inculcate in their minds that illegal drugs really bring no good results to them. This is also for them so that in order to achieve their goals in life, they also need to be responsible enough in their decisions),” he said.
He also added that although the first session was limited to 50 participants, the discussion was still packed with comprehensive information about the dangers of substance abuse ensuring that the students understand the risks and consequences should they ever be tempted to engage in such activities.
CADAC also plans to expand the campaign to other schools across the city in the coming months to further strengthen its reach and impact.
Matteo Buenafred S. Quipanes, Grade 10 student from DRANHS also described the program as an eye-opener, saying it helped them to realize their role as future leaders who must set a good example by avoiding destructive habits.
“It’s helpful for me as a student and as a youth because we are still young and we are going to lead the next generation. To me, it’s an eye-opener to be learning these kinds of things because, being leaders, we need to set a good example, and for that, we need to learn how to avoid things like this. What they say about addictions, addictions don’t just ruin your lives, but as a youth, it ruins your future as well. So, I think for me it’s really an eye-opener to help us prevent these kinds of things,” he said. CIO
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