PDEA urges drug users to seek rehab, cites celebrities who sought treatment
MANILA, Philippines—The chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday urged drug users to seek treatment as he named celebrities who admitted themselves to rehabilitation centers to treat their drug dependency.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac Jr. cited Filipino actor JM de Guzman, Jaycee Chan (son of Hong Kong action superstar Jackie Chan) and Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Jon Jones for their “admission and willingness to be treated.”
“These high-profile celebrities and their respective true to life stories about recovery from drug abuse gives hope to drug users who are still in the realm of drug addiction,” he said.
“Drug addiction destroys one’s life, but the willingness to start over and make changes in order to receive God’s perfect plan for our lives, enables us to correct our wrongs, and leave the guilt, shame and pain behind,” Cacdac said.
De Guzman, 25, suffered from drug addiction that shook his career. But he voluntarily submitted himself to a rehabilitation center, which had helped him return to the show biz industry.
Meanwhile, Jones tested positive for cocaine in December 2014 in an out of competition random drug test but was cleared of performance-enhancing substances.
Like de Guzman, Jones admitted that he has a problem and voluntarily entered a drug treatment facility.
In August 2014, actor Jaycee Chan, and his friend, Taiwanese movie star Kai Ko, were detained in Beijing over drug-related charges.
Both Chan and Ko tested positive for marijuana and admitted using the drug.
Cacdac asked the cooperation and help of families, relatives and the community to convince drug users to seek help from the Dangerous Drugs Board.
“A drug user, dependent or any person who violates Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs), of Republic Act No. 9165, may submit himself for treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependency,” Cacdac said.
“The treatment and rehabilitation program helps drug dependents recover and become productive citizens living in a healthy society,” he said.
RELATED STORIES
P7-M shabu package from QC intercepted by PDEA in Ozamiz City
PNP intensifies campaign vs student drug users, couriers
