■ COSAP LAUNCHES BLACK PARADE ON DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION WEEK
Office organizes a Black Parade to show their opposition to illegal substance abuse.
Joan (not real name), one of those who took to the streets during the Black Parade headed by the Cebu City Office on Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) last Saturday, has seen how illegal drugs can strain family relations. She’s just hopeful her two uncles would make it through a voluntary rehabilitation program. Garry Lao, Cosap executive director, said the activity was part of their efforts to make the city drug-free in celebration of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week. “The negative consequences of drug abuse affect not only individuals but also the families and the community. Let us fight the illegal substance use and addiction,” he said.
While most of her peers played hide and seek outside, Joan (who requested anonymity) and her family had the same version of the game in their household.
But instead of persons hiding from and searching for each other, Joan hides her valuable possessions from her uncles, and hopes that they never find them.
“It’s better that way because if I am not a step ahead, I may never be able to find my stuff if they get a hold of them,” she told SunStar Cebu in Cebuano.
Two of Joan’s maternal uncles have been drug dependents since they were in their early teens. Both are now nearing their 40s.
Joan said her uncles, who were both unemployed, resorted to stealing from family members after their relatives got tired of them asking for money to support their vice.
This led to intense verbal exchanges among the grown ups, which eventually turned to violence.
It wasn’t after then Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte won his presidential bid in the May 2016 polls did Joan’s uncles decided to start anew.
Joan’s uncles sought help and admitted themselves to a private rehabilitation center last year, just weeks before Oplan Tokhang was introduced.
Because of this, Joan has been a staunch supporter of movements against illegal drugs.
Among the recent activities she participated in is the Black Parade launched by the Cebu City Office on Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) last Saturday.
The participants, who wore black shirts, marched from Osmeña Blvd. to the Plaza Sugbo grounds as a statement of their opposition to illegal drug use.
Floats prepared by clustered barangays were also present in the event. It depicted the horrors of illegal drugs and it’s impact to the families and communities.
Garry Lao, Cosap executive director, said that the activity is part of their pledge to make the city drug-free. It is also in line with the celebration of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week.
“Let us fight the illegal substance use and addiction,” he said.