Cagayan de Oro — The Department of Social Welfare and Development recently introduced to local government units in Northern Mindanao the Family Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (FDAPP) which is designed to educate and prepare families and communities about the adverse effects of drug abuse.

The FDAPP targets families whose members feel inadequate in their respective family roles and need help to function (first time parents) ; those whose members are not meeting their needs and whose members are discontented in their current situation (dysfunctional families); those who are experiencing a stressful life situation due to substance use and abuse; those who are vulnerable to and potentially at risk for drug and substance use and abuse; those residing in the barangay, sitio or purok that has a high incidence of drug abuse; those with history of involvement in drug abuse.

It also targets those families who are interested to know about drug abuse; those who have young members in their families who have problems in school; and those who are causing peace and order problems in the communities.

With the end goal of helping the family prevent and fight drug abuse in the home, the FDAPP, through the help of community leaders, is implemented to make every family member aware of drug abuse and how its presence in the home poses a threat to the family’s survival.

According to Morena Fernandez of the DSWD, the local government units play a critical role in the implementation of the programme – by coordinating and ensuring functionality of each  anti-drug abuse council installed in each barangay in their municipalities or cities.

Northern Mindanao has one of the highest number of cases on drug abuse.

The FDAPP also enjoins faith-based organizations, schools, civic and non-government organizations, children and young people’s group to the implementation.

The FDAPP, which was pilot tested in the Punta Taytay, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, is currently being advocated by the DSWD to the public to reduce the probability of drug abuse among families, particularly to their children, later in their lives.

Written by Charmaine P. Tadlas, DSWD