When times are difficult and people want to make a quick buck, selling drugs becomes a tempting proposition. For high risk yields high returns. The economic gains from peddling illegal substances make it a lucrative trade for people to risk life and imprisonment. In a country where religion plays an integral role in society, it is astonishing that the drug trade flourishes. Mexico and Colombia are notorious for their drug cartels, who use brutal force and violence in the usual conduct of their business, yet these countries have a large Christian population. Here in the Philippines, we may not have the level of notoriety that those two countries have earned but if left unchecked we are in a state of clear and present danger. The drug problem is almost everywhere and has not spared anyone, rich and poor alike.

Scores of Filipino women are languishing in foreign jails caught in possession of drugs while in transit. Some have already been executed while others await trial and sentencing. Things like these were unheard of before and the fact that many of our OFWs have fallen victim to drug syndicates by working as drug mules should serve as a stern warning to everyone. The lure of big and easy money is difficult to resist during hard economic times. We read of high profile drug busts in the papers regularly. Shabu laboratories have infiltrated the abodes of the rich, discovered in plush condominiums and exclusive villages. Some trendy bars and nightspots in the affluent districts of our nation's capital have been discovered to be places where high end party drugs are peddled openly.

We may not expect it in a province like Bohol, known for its conservative and religious people yet for all its laid back and friendly charm, we are not spared either. The recent rash of killings related to drugs was unheard of in the past. But sad to say, we are awakened to a stark realization that this problem has spread like cancer slowly eating up our society. For all our religious fervour and devotion, we least expect its presence. But the sinister side of the drug trade has reared its ugly head from time to time. Hundreds of drug related cases pack our courts with more waiting to be filed. Many end up in dismissal and no conviction but this should not deter our law enforcers fromvigorously pursuing drug suspects. What has gone wrong? Where have we gone wrong? In reminiscing the past, we cannot help but ask these poignant questions.

At the onset of Martial Law the execution by firing squad of a convicted drug lord sent a strong message of hope towards a New Society, but over time what gains it achieved were quickly forgotten. We've been so engrossed with our politics and other burning issues of the day that drugs and the ills it brought were taken lightly. But like a deadly disease that was not totally eradicated it simply remained hidden only to reappear much stronger and bolder. Such is the state of the drug problem in our society today that with money and influence, criminals involved in the drug trade have become bold and daring. Where there used to be fear in authority, ascendancy was lost to bribery. Corruption and the penchant for material comforts have caused our enforcement to weaken. Scalawags in robes and in uniform have greatly contributed to its rise. The stranglehold it has on our youth is quite alarming.

Even more disturbing is the chilling thought that it has infiltrated our politics. Narco money may have financed the election bids of some of our public officials. Not quite remote in a system where money plays a big and significant role and vested interests drown principles. We can go on and cower at the fear of possibilities. But unless we act in unison to combat the evils that drugs bring, we better be ready for dire consequences. Addressing the drug trade is no easy task for its players are prepared to kill and resort to violence to protect their turf.It is a deadly business. It is a grim reality that confronts us in our midst at the present and will destroy us in the future if left unabated.

We as a society may have progressed and gone far, taking pride in the strides we made. In our quest for comfort and material gains we have forgotten some basic things that should remain with us. We have become permissive and lax. Fear of being called rigid and outdated and being modern has given way to tolerance. Gone were the days when families huddled to pray the Holy Rosary at early evenings to end the day. Our busy schedules prevent us from sharing meals and enjoying pleasant conversations with the kids. Kissing the hands of our elders may be a thing of the past, but these little gestures taught us to respect authority.

We have become a materialistic society that we now pay the price heavily. Progress and modern technology may have uplifted our living conditions, giving us convenience but it has also dehumanized us. We are busy tinkering with our gadgets, playing games in our computers and living in a “virtual world” that often human face to face communication is lost. We are to blame for we brought this upon us. We have to go back to the basics if we are to combat the ill effectsof drugs. We are to look inwards and gain strength in the family and open the lines of communication to our children. It is here where attitudes, principles and character traits are first developed and taught.