This group wants to change the way the Philippines talks about drug use

MANILA, Philippines – How can the Philippines talk about drug use without going into stereotypes of “addicts” and charged assumptions of them automatically being criminals?

That’s the aim of a group called ACCEPT Project, or the “Advancing Compassionate, Evidence-informed, Practical, and Transformative Modules for Sensible Drug Conversations” project, which developed drug education modules that are based on public health and human rights concepts.

The project wants to form a nationwide network where communities tackle the issue of drug use not from a criminal perspective, but based on a health and social justice perspective.

“For too long, drug education has relied on fear. The ACCEPT modules prove that when we empower communities with evidence and empathy, we don’t just reduce stigma—we create community,” said doctor Raymond John “RJ” Naguit, the project lead, during the launch on March 26.

The project aims to hold workshops with professionals critical in the field – health workers, social welfare workers, lawyers, and others, to kickstart a shift of understanding of drug use. The project is based on the harm reduction principle, a framework that views drug use not as a criminal activity, but a health and social issue, and where those who use drugs are assumed not criminals, but people who can lead unproblematic, productive lives.

For example, when you have PWUDs (persons who use drugs), the questions are about their personal circumstances that led them to use drugs, and not about whether they have committed a crime. Did the person use drugs to stay awake at a heavy labor job? Was it a health need? Was it out of depression?

Panki Nadela, the executive director of Cebu NGO IDUCare, said that current drug education modules still rely heavily on stereotypes. IDUCare provides paralegal services, counseling, and others, to make sure that PWUDs are safe. One service is making sure that the syringe that some use to inject drugs are not contaminated.

“I felt uncomfortable nung nag-present ako, kasi may stereotyping. Yung example nila yung isang Hollywood artist na before gumamit ng drugs, gwapo, after gumamit ng drugs, pangit na,” said Nadela.

(I felt uncomfortable when I presented because there was stereotyping. Their example was a Hollywood artist who was handsome, but turned ugly after using drugs.)

Harm reduction

The Marcos government initially signaled that it would shift its drug policy to a harm reduction framework, but after the midterm elections, the President announced a return to basically the framework of Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs: which is that drug users are criminals who should be arrested.

Enter ACCEPT project, made up of doctors, human rights lawyers, and civil society leaders who have worked within their own capacities before to protect communities from the brutal war on drugs.

These groups have been advocating for years on how to amend drug policies in the country. The main concern is that it’s too punitive – with harsh punishments even on small amounts in possession. It also discourages people from seeking medical help for fear of being treated as criminals.

Even rehabilitation is court-mandated, and some centers are not equipped to tackle the issue. In an earlier interview, Naguit said some rehabilitation centers do prayer meetings, and zumba exercises. “There are no standardized drug treatment programs within drug rehabilitation centers. There are also no guidelines in operating drug rehabilitation centers,” said the team.

“A true public health approach requires us to look through the lens of transitional justice, which will examine the roles of all actors in drug policy,” said Human Rights Commissioner Maria Amifaith Fider-Reyes.

“Under this framework, users will be reintegrated as productive community members, law enforcers will be reactivated as enforcers of human rights, and the entire legal ecosystem will be overhauled to shift justice away from prison, abuse, and impunity,” said Fider-Reyes.

The modules were developed locally to fit Philippine realities. Around the world, several countries have their own harm reduction frameworks such as centers providing assisted drug use.

“Matagal nang hindi napapakinggan ang boses ng mga komunidad, lalo na ng kababaihan, sa usapin ng droga. Sa ACCEPT modules, sila mismo ang nasa sentro. Kapag may tamang kaalaman at kasangkapan, hindi lang sila kalahok—sila ang nangunguna sa pagbabago,” said Bernadette Boyles of the group Kababaihan sa Pagbabago at Pagbangon.

(Communities, especially women, have long been unheard when it comes to the issue of drugs. Here in ACCEPT modules, we are the center. When we have knowledge and tools, we’re not only participants, but leaders of change.)

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– Rappler.com