AIDS AMONG DRUG USERS WORRIES PDEA

AUTHORITIES fear the possible spread of contagious diseases including
HIV-AIDS among the country's drug addicts who share a single needle in
their drug sessions, the People's Journal was told yesterday.

"We are watching this new development in the local drug scene: the
possibility that drug addicts will become carriers of much dreaded
diseases like HIV-AIDS because they are using the same needle," said
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chairman Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr.

Recalling the Quiricada underground drug industry in Sta. Cruz, Manila
in the 70s and 80s, PDEA officials said they have monitored an area in
Cebu City where drug addicts go to have a "shot" of Nubain, an
addictive anesthetic.

PDEA agents with the help of the local Philippine National Police are
clamping down on the drug trade at Ungkera Street in Barangay
Camagayan, Cebu City.

"There is a report on rampant abuse of Nubain in the said area where
addicts can go to have a shot of Nubain for a few bucks. The worst
danger here is that the addicts are reportedly getting the shot from
the same needle," said another PDEA official, Supt. Primo Golingay.

Golingay said Nubain relaxes patients in clinics and hospitals but can
have lethal effects once abused or administered the wrong way.

"A single needle can spread AIDS, hepatitis or even diabetes among its
users in case anyone in a group of addicts resorting to the said
practice is a carrier of any of the said diseases," Golingay said.

He also said they have reports that fake Nubain is being sold in some
parts of the country. "Anybody who will use this fake drug is courting
death," he said. The Bureau of Food and Drugs has monitored the
proliferation of counterfeit Nubain on the underground market.

Avenido said the PDEA is recommending the reclassification of Nubain,
also known as Nalbuphine, as a dangerous drug amid reports it is being
abused.

"Right now, we are conducting talks with the Dangerous Drugs Board to
pave the way for the reclassification of Nubain as a dangerous drug,"
he said.

Reports said addicts hooked on shabu are now resorting to Nubain for a
new kind of euphoria. "They are trying to get another high this
time," said Golingay.

Avenido said the practice by some addicts to use a single needle
greatly increases the risk of HIV/AIDS contamination and boosts the
spread of other deadly diseases. "This is a big no-no and we're
worried about that," he said.

He made the revelation even as anti-narcotics officers from 26
Asia-Pacific countries and four international organizations agreed to
take positive steps to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS among drug users.

Avenido said the problem was among those discussed during a high-level
conference in Hanoi, Vietnam where Asia-Pacific anti-narcotics chiefs
agreed to further enhance their global war against drug trafficking
and abuse.

"We agreed that Asia-Pacific governments should take good steps to
increase their citizens' knowledge on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS
infection among drug addicts in order to predict future trends and
come up with effective strategies to have aneffective drug law
enforcement and ensure the safety of the public," Avenido said.

Avenido said that participants in the meeting agreed that the
international community should provide protective equipment and
awareness training to their frontline law enforcement agents who face
the risk of being contaminated with the HIV/AIDS virus and other
blood-borne diseases.

Asia-Pacific representatives also agreed to take steps to implement
procedural guidlines to support the safe and professional interaction
between law enforcers and persons with HIV/AIDS and other contagious
diseases, he said.