By Joseph Zambrano
LA
TRINIDAD, Benguet – The use of marijuana among high school students is going
higher in the Cordillera, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The
PDEA Cordillera officials bared this saying they have partnered with Department of Education in campaign
through lectures and seminars to educate students on ill effects of
using illegal drugs.
Ronald
Allan DG Ricardo, PDEA
Cordillera regional director, said marijuana is top illegal drug
used by high school students in the region.
One
reason for this is marijuana is locally produced making it accessible to students, Ricardo said.
He
identified the provinces of Benguet, Mountain Province and Kalinga where marijuana is cultivated.
High
school students smoking cigarettes will likely try smoking marijuana, Ricardo
said.
Among
ill effects of taking marijuana include rapid heartbeat,
disorientation, lack of physical coordination, depression and panic attacks or
anxiety.
Studies reportedly
show regular marijuana use adversely affects mental health among young adults
with increased risk of psychotic symptoms and disorders.
Moreover,
students who use marijuana reportedly have high probability of dropping
out of school or
achieving less educationally, as well as higher risk of delinquency and
legal problems.
The
Dangerous Drug Act mandates preventive education campaign in schools on illegal
drugs while DepEd is required to
include it in its curriculum and teachers will have regular training.
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