Hanoi (VNA) – The number of drug users in the Philippines hasdeclined by more than half from 4 million in 2016 to 1.67 million in 2019,three years after President Rodrigo Duterte launched a crackdown on drug use, asurvey has shown.
The country’s Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) recently releasedthe survey on the patterns and trends of drug abuse results conducted fromDecember 2019 to February 2020.
In a televised address to the nation on October 19 evening,Duterte cited the survey saying around 1.67 million or two out of 100 Filipinosaged 10 to 69 are using drugs.
Duterte warned drug users and dealers anew to stop, sayingthe bad habit endangers the national security.
The DDB said the survey shows a clear significant declinewhich can be attributed to the success of the government's anti-drug campaignand steadfast priority given by the government to create drug-free communitiesunder the Duterte administration.
About 65.8 percent of the respondents are aware of thegovernment's campaign against illicit drugs. Of those who are aware, 81.6percent support the campaign, the DDB said.
Respondents of the survey are Filipinos aged 10 to 69randomly selected from 9,341 households in all the 17 regions of the country./.
VNA