Endangered

"When you start using illegal drugs, you start destroying yourself."

The threat of illegal drugs is decisive, and it’s closer than we think. In our country,, the drug-abuse situation has actually increased over the years. llegal drugs have taken the spotlight. It is already evident that many are actually getting high with these. And, what's more palpitating is the fact that the perilous addiction and use of such drugs have already penetrated and are now lurking the walls of the academic institutions. This is alarming.

Let the figures speak. According to report of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the police have caught over 1,300 children aged 17 years and below for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs in the year 2018.

News reports have it that students themselves confessed that they did use illegal drugs, and that there were actually cases where students were caught bringing with them illegal drugs and probably, they might had also used such in school. Imagine, students who are drug- users. This is sad.

On the other hand, young people are also used as "drug runners". Probably this is because the adults think that authorities are not really suspicious of the youngsters and that children could escape from the law and cannot be jailed.

Young people are using illegal drugs. Young people are "used". Young people harm and are harmed. These are the status quo.

Now, what does this implicate? Primordially, the schools are no longer safe because there are already students who are not just getting high grades but also getting high with drugs. Having this said, their classmates are just one step away from being harmed or worse, the students who are using drugs are just a step away from harming themselves. Who would know if one day, students might be addicted so much with illegal drugs to the point of losing themsves?

Secondly, with the presence of such act of students, the parents of illegal drug users failed to fulfill their mission of guidance. Yes. They seem to forget asking how is their child doing, is he okay, is every thing alright? This actually triggers this illicit doing of some students. When the parents begin losing time for their children, they begin losing them, and possibly, at that juncture, illegal drugs could be waving at them. I know this because I see and I care. And you, our parents should know better.

And thirdly, as the age of illegal drug users continue to descend, the nation is being jeopardized as these marijuana, cocaine, ecstacy, and other forms, destroy the very hope of the land, we, the youth. If we are thought to be the builders of a better society someday, I doubt if it would be made possible if many of us would grow as drug- users. Let us be reminded of the fact that drugs cause ripple effect which push people to commit other crimes- murder, rape, abuse, to name a few. Imagine, the hope of our nation doing all of these things due to illegal drugs. What kind of society would that be? Well, it does not differ with the generation of today where crimes are perpetuated, and the root is said by President Duterte to be the use of illegal drugs.

All of these things ought to seek empathy from other social strands, a call for collective action in addressing this social illness where the future of the future is what at stake. Of course, from a point- of- view of a student, I do not condemn nor tolerate this juvenile issue because I am not in the position to judge them or those who are yet to use, hopefully none. Besides, at the end of the day, we, young people, students in particular are victims on this matter and are just misled. Users are victims of lack of guidance or misguidance, and unsafe society where drugs are ubiquitous and accessible. In this regard, I have to ask, with the wake of War on Drugs of our govenment, does that serve as a deterrent to us or a stimulus for us to be more curious and worse, try it, somehow?

Yet, regardless of the answer to this question, one thing is clear. I, in behalf of all the young people, call for a safer and a more secured environment where these illegal drugs do not have a space. This can only be done if you, as our elders partake in this not- so- child-friendly war on drugs. Because as long as there are old and mature enough people who are using illegal drugs, don't expect younger people to subdue to what you say is illegal. We ask you, the old people, to lead by example.

We now reach the point where the use of illegal drugs is no longer just the issue of old and mature people, it is becoming ours. And, this is a nightmare. Only when we wake up from this nightmare that we, students and young people, can grow and thrive successfully maximizing our potentials and be someone you aspire us to be. May we imbibe in our minds that illegal drugs are not and never our friends.