The Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP) recently hosted a roundtable discussion focused on advancing a public health approach to substance use. Supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the event gathered its members to discuss the normative frameworks on substance use policy, proposed bills, and drug policy reform advocacy initiatives.
This roundtable builds on the efforts of the PSPHP Substance Use Thematic Working Group to promote a shift from punitive measures to policies grounded in human rights and public health. The PSPHP affirms its commitment to supporting evidence-informed policies and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration to transform substance use policy and services towards a framework that responds community’s needs, delivers positive health outcomes, and protects rights of people whose lives include drugs.
By RJ Naguit, MD
#DrugPolicyReformNow #PublicHealth #SupportDontPunish
