2 million Pinoy workers now hooked on drugs

At least two million Filipino workers are now hooked on illegal drugs and the number of drug users in the workplace is still growing rapidly, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Undersecretary Manuel Imson said based on data reaching DOLE, about 30 percent of the recorded 6.7 million drug users nationwide are young, educated workers.

Citing data from the National Statistics Office, Imson said the typical Filipino drug user is 25 years old, single, employed, lives in an urban area and has an average monthly income of P4,726.

"What is more alarming is that in all cases admitted for drug treatment and rehabilitation in year 2004, 33 percent were employed. How many returned to work after rehabilitation remains unknown," he said.

Data gathered from drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities last year showed that those admitted were, on the average, 29 years old, single, belonged to a family with three or four siblings, lived in urban areas, and about 30 percent of them were employed.

Imson added that data from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) indicated the number of drug dependents has nearly doubled in the past five years.

He stressed the need to curb the worsening drug menace since it now threatens the country’s workforce.

"The far-reaching effects of substance abuse threaten the productivity and efficiency at the workplace. We are aware that drug users may initially incur absence during the week, but as the addiction progresses, absenteeism becomes frequent," Imson said.

He noted that drug use could result in higher medical and human resource development costs.

With the high number of employed drug dependents, Imson said the government identified the workplace as a primary venue for implementing preventive programs towards a drug-free Philippines.

He said the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), an agency attached to DOLE, has started training employers’ and workers’ groups to implement a drug-free workplace program.

Imson said the training program would help private establishments to enforce a drug prevention program. A law requiring companies to implement drug prevention programs took effect last March.

At the opening ceremonies that kicked off the four-day training, DDB Undersecretary Edgar Galvante said the goal of a drug-free Philippines by 2010 depends on the participation of all sectors, especially that of labor.

Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines governor and vice president Rene Cristobal stressed their group’s support for drug-free workplaces. He said ECOP has "included the promotion of reproductive health, prevention of HIV/AIDS, drugs, and tuberculosis in the workplace to espouse the concept of decent work in all Philippine workplaces."