THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
- 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol has been the cause of hundreds of accidents, 
crimes and deaths each year. In some cases, sharing of drug paraphernalia can cause the spread 
of a number of communicable diseases, including AIDS and Hepatitis C. 
The problem of substance abuse among the youth has long been a social issue. In a study 
conducted by the University o f  the Philippines in 1994, it was found that 60 per cent of Filipino 
youths were said to be drinking alcoholic beverages. It further stated that on the average, 
Filipino youths start drinking alcohol at the age of 16 or 17. However, there are also many cases 
when children as young as 12 are already drinking alcoholic beverages. 
In a more recent study, the World Youth Report 2003 claimed that many regions of the 
world experience levels of youth substance abuse that represent historic highs. In Thailand and 
the Philippines, metamphetamines are currently the leading substance of concern. Inhalants 
(volatile substances) are generally abused by street children. Furthermore, the age at which 
young people begin to consume drugs is decreasing. 
The study further reports that poverty, social disintegration, past traumas, and lack of 
access to education, health and leisure services put young people at high risk o f  developing drug 
abuse problems. The effects of substance abuse range from physical degradation to short and 
long term mental health risks like depression, paranoia and even psychosis. 
Eventually, 
addictive behavior can hamper young peoples' personal and professional potentials and 
employability. 
In Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all states agree to protect 
children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and to prevent 
children from being exposed to the ill.icit production and trafficking of such substances. 


To effectively fulfill this obligation, the government must take cognizance of the fact that 
there are certain youth groups more vulnerable or susceptible to substance abuse. These youth 
groups may not have any access to formal institutional structures precisely because of their 
marginalized status. 
In order to reach out to these disenfranchised sectors of the youth, community-based 
programs which target these high-risk youth must be put in place. More often than not, non- 
governmental organizations have the experience and capacity to work at the grass-roots level. 
This bill mandates the Department of Health to make grants that would assist such 
organizations in this noble cause, so that the youth may be saved from the debilitating effects of 
substance abuse and become competent partners in development. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION AND TEATMENT OF 
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG HIGH RISK YOUTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Saving Young Substance Abusers 
Act of 2005.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration ofPolicy. - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in 
nation-building and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well- 
being. 
SECTION 3. “High Risk Youth” Dejned. - For purposes of this Act, the term “high risk 
youth” means an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, who is at high risk of 
becoming, or who’has become, a drug abuser or an alcohol abuser, and who - 
(a) is identified as a child of a substance abuser; 
(b) is a victim of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse; 
(c) does not attend school; 
(d) has become pregnant; 
(e) is economically disadvantaged; 
(q has committed a violent or delinquent act; 
(g) has experienced mental health problems; 
(h) has attempted suicide; 
(i) has experienced long-term physical pain due to injuty; 
(i) has experienced chronic failure in school; 


(k) is from a broken family; 
(1) is a child laborer; 
(ni) is a street child or street gaiig member; or 
(n) lives in conflict areas. 
SECTION 4. Grants to Public and Nonprofit Private Entities. - The Secretary of the 
Department of Health shall make grarlts to public and nonprofit private entities for projects to 
demonstrate effective models for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of drug abuse and 
alcohol abuse among high risk youth. 
SECTION 5. Priority off'rojects. - 
(1) In making grants for drug abuse and alcohol abuse prevention projects, the 
Secretary shall give priority to applications for projects directed at children of substance 
abusers, children at risk of abuse or neglect, preschool children, children at risk of 
dropping out of school, children at risk of becoming adolescent parents, children who do 
not attend school, child laborers, street children, and children who are at risk of being 
unemployed. 
(2) In making grants for drug abuse and alcohol abuse treatment and rehabilitation 
projects, the Secretary shall give priority to projects which address the relationship 
between drug abuse or alcohol abuse and physical child abuse, sexual child abuse, 
emotional child abuse, dropping out of school, unemployment, delinquency, pregnancy, 
violence, suicide, or mental health problems. 
(3) In making grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to 
applications from community based organizations for projects: 
(a) to develop innovative models with multiple, coordinated services for 
the prevention or for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug abuse or alcohol 
abuse by high risk youth. 
(b) to demonstrate effective models with multiple, coordinated services 
which may be replicated and which are for the prevention or for the treatment and 
rehabilitation of drug abuse or alcohol abuse by high risk youth. 


(c) that employ research designs adequate for evaluating the effectiveness 
of the program. 
SECTION 6. Strategies for Reducing Use. - The Secretary shall ensure that projects 
under Section 4 include strategies for reducing the use of alcoholic beverages and tobacco 
products by individuals to whom it is unlawful to sell or distribute such beverages or products. 
SECTION 7. Equal Distribution of Grants. - To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall 
ensure the equal distribution of grants under this Act among urban and rural areas. 
SECTION 8. Application for Grants. - In order to receive a grant for a project under this 
Act for a fiscal year, a public or nonprofit private entity shall submit an application to the 
Secretary. The Secretary may provide the provincial governor or the city mayor the opportunity 
to review and comment on such application. Such application shall be in such form, shall contain 
such information, and shall be submitted at such time as the Secretary may by regulation 
prescribe. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,