Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region
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2 .10 Philippines
Population: 84,241,341
2 .10 .1 Overview of
recent drug trends
The main drug of abuse is crystal methamphetamine
hydrochloride, locally known as
‘shabu’ . Domestically grown cannabis is
the second most frequently abused drug,
followed by cough and cold preparations,
benzodiazepines and inhalants . Ecstasy is
becoming increasingly popular as a drug
of abuse .
2 .10 .2 Prevalence of drug use
The Dangerous Drugs Board is completing
the 2004 National Household Survey on
the Nature and Extent of Drug Abuse . As
a result, 1999 figures are reported here .
As a percentage of the 1999 population
(79,345,812): 4 .3 per cent were current users
of illicit drugs, 2 .2 per cent were regular
users of illicit drugs, and 2 per cent were
occasional users of illicit drugs .
2 .10 .3 Drug supply
The Philippines serves as a transit point for
and producer of crystal methamphetamine
and cannabis . In 1997, Philippine law enforcement
dismantled 32 laboratories, a total of
2057 kilograms of shabu were recovered . Wild
growth of cannabis occurs in the mountainous
regions in the Philippines, generally cultivated
in areas that are inaccessible by vehicles and/or
are controlled by insurgent groups . Ecstasy is
imported and used in the Philippines, regardless
of its high price . Likewise, cocaine also
enters the Philippines for transhipment and
personal use, but at much lower levels than
methamphetamine .
2 .10 .4 Drug-taking practices,
risk factors and trends
The Philippines has one of the lowest rates of
HIV infection in Asia . Unlike other countries
in Southeast Asia, injecting drug use has
not made a substantial contribution to
reported HIV infections and AIDS cases in
the Philippines . It is generally accepted that
shabu is not injected — the mode of ingestion
2 .10 .5 Summary table
is inhalation . The Behavioural Baseline Survey
on HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users in
the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu
(2005) reported that 58 per cent of those
interviewed injected drugs more than once
per day and the majority (71%) of respondents
used needles and syringes used by others .
Aside from injecting nubain, the respondents
also used shabu, cannabis and cough syrup .
Estimated number of current drug users In 1999, an estimated 1 .8 million
people were regular illicit drug users .*
Main drugs used Shabu (methamphetamines) and cannabis
Drugs injected Injecting drug use in the Philippines
is reported to be very limited .
Estimated prevalence of
HIV infection among IDUs
Based on the National HIV Sentinel
Surveillance System of the National
Epidemiology Centre (DoH), no drugrelated
HIV case was recorded in 2003 .
* A regular user is defined as having used illicit drugs once or twice per week for the six months
prior to participating in the survey .
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Country summaries: Philippines