MARAMAG: Before we start, let us first define the term "stigma".

Stigma refers to an
unfavorable attitude or form of discrimination directed against a person because of a distinctive
characteristic, such as a physical or mental impairment. Stigma can lead to the violation of
human rights and is a significant factor in exclusion and discrimination. Being stigmatized
means being treated less favorably due to a real or imagined health condition. Stigma is
founded on assumptions, beliefs, and generalizations rather than on facts. Being stigmatized
leads to rejection, avoidance, prejudice, and discrimination. In this country, both addiction and
mental health illnesses suffer from severe stigma. The truth is that when it comes to substance
misuse or conduct, the general population, along with family and friends, harbor negative
feelings. Alcoholic, crackhead, or junkie are just a handful of the names that addicts are
sometimes called; other derogatory terms are also used to describe persons with addiction
disorders. An addiction to substances can strike anyone.

Opposing: Yes, the social stigma towards the drug users as well as alcohol drinkers are cruel
even in these days. Impression towards them is not as equal as those who do not use the said
substances. Why? because it is illegal. As simple as it is, there are laws - such as Republic Act
9165 or the comprehensive act of 2002. This law establishes penalty according to the different
dangerous drug, regardless of the quantity and purity involved. that can be the reason why
impression towards them is different. It is not right to discriminate the drug users as a whole
because who knows what they have been through, but we cannot still erase the fact that usage
of those substance, regardless of its quantity, is still not legal in our country. It is not enough that
we just acknowledge her initiative to change her life into a better one. Also, facing those
consequences is a part of the process of improving her life because that act means that she is
willing to learn from her mistakes and can-do other act to improve her living.

MAYOLA: Developing stability, independence, and a sense of self-sufficiency is crucial to

addiction treatment. These things are typically far simpler to attain with a respectable job and a
consistent paycheck, neither of which frequently come naturally to addicts in recovery. The sad
fact is that addiction decreases your likelihood of being employed and increases your likelihood
of having trouble finding and keeping a job. Abuse of illegal and prescription drugs is more
prevalent among the unemployed, and both can have a negative impact on a person's
employment history. 
Here in the Philippines, several Government and Non-Government Organization such as DOH-
TRC Bicutan in Taguig, Marikina Rehabilitation Center and Serenity in the Steps offers a
variety of services, such as codependency programs for the whole family, medical tourism,
mentoring, recovery coach training, advocacy, and employee assistance programs. Especially,
the “Serenity” which is the official International Centre for the Credentialing and Education of
Addiction Professionals Colombo Plan Education provider here in our Country. They aim of
training, credentialing and professionalizing the addiction treatment workforce around the
world. ICCE conducts credentialing examinations in order to provide addiction treatment
professionals with the credentials that show that they have the necessary skills, knowledge and
competence to treat addiction.
VIDANES: Regarding on what you have said about the unemployment amongst the drug users;
I think we also should consider the overall safety of the companies and the employees in it. As
said earlier, all of their acts have its own consequences. It tis not fair for the companies to see
the applicant who have a record regarding drugs, and to those who did not use it. Based in
Republic Act 112161 Companies are requiring all the job seekers to submit their NBI Clearance
or Police Clearance and other important document as a way to ensure that their future
employees has no pending criminal cases before working. It is just normal and should not see
it as negative in a way that it discriminates the employees who uses addictive substances. It is
just fair to let them secure their own safety. Legal Sanctions must be done because it is in the
law and to give justice to those who do not use it. However, it does noy stop there. In Precy’s
situation, medical interventions should also be done since it was having an addictive
component that will harm her if she stopped in an abrupt manner. To be fair with others, legal
process should be done to make her pay for her life-decisions, since it is mentiond that they
have taken it intentionally. After attaining legal process and right medical intervention, that is
when Precy will earn trust from the employers.

MACEDA: The government can provide a rehabilitation program for drug users. Drug users are
actually ill people who need help. Rehabilitation is one of the main things they should get.
Instead of punishing previous drug addicts, the government can provide rehabilitation for them.
Most users are actually victims of persuasive peddlers and they suffer from consuming the
drugs. Therefore, by rehabilitating them, we are actually helping them out from traps which they
might actually step on. If we only arrest drug users and send them to jail, this doesn’t solve the
problem as drug users will still be addicted unless proper rehabilitation is imposed on them.
Providing rehabilitation programs for drug users and forcing them to participate in the programs
is better than only arresting them and doing nothing to their illness. 

Opposition: Illegal usage of addictive substances like what Precy have taken which is marijuana
still have to undergo some sanctions because it does not obey the law. These drug users
should not always be viewed as victims, they are not all the same. As my member said, the
given situation states that Precy intentionally took the drugs and used it for her own good.
Filipinos must comply to all these laws because para saan pa yung mga batas kung
igegeneralize niyo yung drug users as a victim? In Precy’s case, the role of the government is
primarily give her all the medical interventions just like what you said- rehabilitations and
administration of proper medicine kasi hindi lang naman nag suffer si precy sa drug addiction,
she also suffers from trauma that her husband caused. Along with this, proper sanctions and
investigations regarding her case must be done to clearly know what to do to help her.

Question2

MAYOLA: If I am an employer, yes, I will hire a person who has a history of drug addiction. By
lowering the stigma attached to drug use and supporting compassionate, judgment-free
approaches to addiction, we can eradicate prejudice against all drug users. And all of this
should start with our self. Despite the dilemma we may feel like we're in, there are some
principles that we can utilize to construct our own solution to these situations. This will allow us
to develop a strategy that handles the issue from both a financially sound point of view as well
as a humane one.
VIDANES: I disagree with what the pro side just said. If this “judgment-free” approach persists
then it won't only be your establishment that will be prejudiced, but it will harm the whole
community. Society will be most affected by this because drug problems will only continue to
progress to a larger societal crisis, worse than it already is. An efficient way of helping a drug
user is to first assess her main problem which is drug addiction. Precy needs professional help
first before entering into a job so that she gets the appropriate treatment that she needs. So
our point is that, if the establishment accepts this employee, then it will only come off as
overlooking the impending issue which is drug abuse resulting in progression and failure to
resolve the issue.

MARAMAG: Of course, employees and applicants are real people with real lives, families,
loved ones, and communities outside of their work that recognize them as valuable members.
Rejecting an employee's and applicant’s drug use as a bad habit rather than the illness that
science tells us is opposed to everything a business that values its workers wants to offer.
However, it raises the following issue: How should an addict be treated if they are a sick person
who needs to get better rather than a "bad" person who needs to change? This is not to say
that troubles, problems, broken rules, or even broken laws, are to be swept away and
pardoned. Most likely, you wouldn't fire a worker who had a chronic, progressive ailment like
diabetes, hypertension, or asthma, which, if unchecked, may be fatal. Considering that
addiction is a separate kind of disease, should addicts bear the stigma of failure?

Addiction is incomparable to progressive illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension

since in addiction there is a habitual disorder of the use of drugs. You wouldn't fire a worker
who has diabetes because diabetes does not affect the daily course of work of an individual as
it does not alter one’s behavior and consciousness. Addiction on the other hand is not having
control over your urges to use drugs. The state of a person’s health is not always a choice;
however, one can choose to try to maintain or improve one’s health.

MACEDA: Substance abusers are attempting to put their addictive behavior behind them; the
last thing they need is to be constantly told of their hardest times. Yes, I will allow Percy to work
in my establishment.
VALDEZ: I disagree; feelings or attachments should not be used to hire someone in your
organization, especially if that person is going through a difficult time, such as addiction
recovery.
MACEDA: This is not about attachment feelings. This is based on Percy’s ability to do her job. I
will give her a chance to work if her actions do not disrupt or obstruct any rules and regulations.
VALDEZ: This type of decision would be unjust to those who are the most qualified for the job
and fit in the best. A charity case should be kept separate from business.
MACEDA: Broadening these acts of compassion and generosity to those in rehabilitation and
those suffering from substance use disorders will aid in their realization and maintenance of
their healing process. It will also empower everyone else to seek assistance when necessary.
This will lessen the act of discrimination toward the stigma of drug addicts in recovery.