28 April 2023, Naga City- The Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) spearheaded an Anti-Illegal Drugs Webinar dubbed as “I Choose to be Drug-Free” via Zoom and Youtube.
The ADNU’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and Ateneo Higher Education Health Services Office, in cooperation with the Bicol Council of Deans/Directors of Student Affairs and Services (BCODDSAS), livestreamed the event to a region-wide live audience of 600 plus students and student affairs (SAS) practitioners.
This webinar was a concrete expression of the university’s duty to promote student rights and responsibilities, and strengthen measures for campus security and student safety. Particularly, the webinar aimed at imparting to the students correct knowledge on illegal drugs and prevention of drug addiction; cultivating the value of reflection and discernment; and encouraging them and the student organizations to join the advocacy towards a safe and drug-free campus.
The BCODDSAS adviser, Dr. Ma. Pamela Sorra-Viñas, Education Supervisor II of the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office V and Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign focal person for the region, gave the opening remarks. Her message highlighted the importance of promoting the well-being of the youth by establishing a healthy lifestyle and safe campus, and envisioning a drug-free community with the help of conducting workshops regarding drug education and prevention.
The resource speaker, Santaner T. Iray, Global Drug Demand Reduction Trainer for International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP)- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), began his talk by examining how an individual’s choices impact their decisions in life. With this, he shared this mantra, “kung wala ang droga sa buhay mo, ang kinabukasan mo ay sigurado.” He proceeded by discussing the distinction between substance use and drug dependency, the causes of drug addiction, the many types of substances, and their negative consequences on human physiology, psychology, and behavior. Iray stressed the significance of empowering and educating the next generation about this urgent and important issue on drugs by providing the participants tips on how to avoid illegal drugs, including smoking and alcohol. Moreover, he reviewed the salient points of the Republic Act 9165, and underscored the school’s and individual’s role in drug prevention.
After the talks, the host/moderator Jackie Louwen A. Cestina, a Computer Engineering student, facilitated the open forum. Invited resource sharer, Dr. Gilda Gayle Abonal-Gomez, Naga City Councilor and ADNU faculty member, gave her inputs about drug prevention grounded on research and based on the Naga City’s experience of the community-based treatment programs. Dr. Gomez argued that according to the study she was part of, drug use is not a chronic disorder but a health problem in order to eliminate the stigma attached to drug use. She added that since some of the drug users lack coping skills and have environmental triggers, such as family, part of the rehabilitation is to equip them with a set of life skills or recovery skills for their reintegration in the community. Further, Dr. Gomez shared that ADNU is engaged in the community-based drug rehabilitation programs of Naga City through the Psychology Department, with teachers serving as coaches of the community facilitators to ensure competency in the delivery of the interventions.
Students from the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi and Mariners Polytechnic Colleges, Inc.-Naga, namely David Tino and Anji Claudette Abigail Botor, gave their reactions to the presentation of the speaker. After this, the other participants’ questions were addressed in the Open Forum.
This webinar is part of the ADNU’s advocacy towards a safe and drug-free campus. In the upcoming semesters, the University will continue to promote this advocacy on anti-illegal drugs to ensure personal safety and well-being of everyone, and peace in the community.
You can still view the webinar thru this link: https://tinyurl.com/I-Choose-to-be-Drug-Free.
Written by Janice Tresvalles and Catherine Llaban
