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Evangelista, Arhlie Jane V.

BS BIO 1-1
Miguel, Charlyn M

Band-aid Solution
(Should drug addicts be sent prisons instead of treatments in Rehabilitation Centers (TRC’s)?)
Detaining drug addicts on prison acts as a punishment and let them pay for their
wrongdoings; however, this is only a band-aid solution. Doing this will just fix the surface not the
root of the problem.
Old or young, drugs destroy the life of every person no matter what the age of an individual.
On the latest statistics released by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on January 31,
2019, from the 170, 689 drug personalities arrested. What is more alarming is that children are
exposed to illicit substances at a young age. Children ages 9-12 have been involved in illegal drug
activities. Statistics from PDEA shows that a whopping 2,016 children have been part of illegal
drug activities that will more likely to get addicted with drugs.
In an article written by National Institute on Drug Abuse pertaining to Health
Consequences of Drug Misuse, “long-term drug use can also lead to addiction. Drug addiction is
a brain disorder”. Like any other illnesses, addiction to drugs needs treatment not punishment.. If
a disease is not treated early, it will be much more difficult to treat later on. Hence, early treatment
has higher chances of battling and eradicating addiction. Add to the fact that it is a sickness of the
most complex organ of the body- our brain.
Spending days as an inmate will give no assurance and guarantee of drug addicts not trying
drugs anymore. Putting into jail all the drug personalities arrested is never tantamount to a life free
from using illicit drugs. The current situation of prisons in the country is not conducive for those
who are suffering from addiction giving rise only to mental torture caused by other prisoners who
are not receiving the needed medical treatments. Moreover, overcrowded prisons would not be a
great help.
After paying fine and spending minimum amount of days on jail, drug addicts could turn
back from taking drugs and all forms of vices anytime because their addiction is not cured at all.
According to the Gateway Foundation on the Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction, “some effects
of drugs include health consequences that are long-lasting and permanent. They can even continue
after a person has stopped taking the substance.” Policemen can be of no help on eradicating the
symptoms caused by drug abuse.
Access to treatment and rehabilitation centers (TRC’s) could provide a better treatment and
diagnosis to the suffering of drug addicts. Rehabilitation centers are equipped with doctors,
psychologist, and social workers who play an important role on treating the addiction of drug users.
They provide a well-developed and regulated program for diagnosing and treating illnesses such
as mental theraphy and counselling services. In this way, they will see a gray of hope not visible
in jail and be a transformed individual who are not addicted to drugs anymore.
Without proper medical attention and findings, addiction will always prevail. Counselling
services from medical practitioners and health allied who has the knowledge and ability to improve
health status of drug addicts and treat their addiction on taking all sorts of drugs is what they need.
This is why treatment and rehabilitation centers are better alternative than the impractical solution
of detaining drug addicts.

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