On 23 September 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) granted clearance for the conduct of the 2019 Nationwide Survey on the Nature and Extent of Drug Abuse in the Philippines by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The survey will be used to determine the magnitude of the drug problem nationwide and estimate the number of lifetime and current drug users. A total of 9,600 households/individuals will be interviewed for the survey.

Results of the survey will be released in May 2020. This will provide the basis for various anti-drug initiatives, programs and policies to curb the drug abuse problem in the country.

Major data items to be collected in this undertaking include the following:

• demographic characteristics including data on age, sex, civil status, highest educational attainment, employment status, number of household members, monthly household income, number of household members, place of residence, and familial arrangement
• patterns and characteristics of drug use with data on use of drugs, type of drugs used, reason for drug use, frequency of drug use, amount spent per drug intake, and help-seeking behaviors
• incidence of drug abuse among respondent’s family members
• awareness and availment of anti-drug abuse services provided by government
• perception on government’s performance in addressing drug-related problems

A total budget amounting to PhP 70 million will be utilized to cover personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) such as travelling expenses, supplies and printing of materials.

The 2019 Nationwide Survey on the Nature and Extent of Drug Abuse in the Philippines was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10625 to:

• ensure sound design for data collection;
• minimize the burden placed upon respondents;
• effect economy in statistical data collection;
• eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and
• achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins the public to support the said survey. Meanwhile, the PSA would like to inform the general public that the PSA is only mandated to review and clear the survey materials through the SSRCS. In the event that the survey proponent hires a third-party entity to undertake the survey on their behalf, kindly note that the PSA does not have control over the agreement between the survey proponent and the third-party entity.

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division (SSD) of the Standards Service (SS) with telephone numbers
(02) 376-1928 and (02) 376-1931, and email address: ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph or ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.