A Critical Analysis of Policies and Programs on Substance Abuse Prevention in the Philippines

Abstract

The research is an in-depth critical analysis of the different substance abuse prevention programs implemented by selected government, quasi-government agencies and non-government organizations active in the campaign of prevention the past five years (1994-1998). It discusses the prevention strategies and organizational structure of each government, quasigovernment and non-government organization's program. Several local and foreign studies done on the problem of substance abuse prevention were cited along with the national government’s previous effort. Administrative responses adopted of each program leaders, to minimize if not eradicate the substance abuse problem were measured in view of the study's hypothesis, the greater the occurrence of substance abuse in the country, the greater will be the manifestation of the government and concerned citizens/organizations response to cure and control the problem, the greater efforts would not result to success unless a well-coordinated long term prevention plan and an active involvement of all sectors of the society was put into place. The study found out that all sample organizations had preventive programs related to substance abuse. However, the efforts exerted among the organizations were not comparable. The failure of preventive programs can be attributed to the lack of coordination among various stake holders that involves government agencies, NGO's, private industries and general population.