The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has collaborated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in a bid to resolve the substance abuse involving out-of-school youth (OSY).

With substance use remaining one of the most urgent social and health challenges affecting the OSY across the country, the DDB and the DSWD conducted a seminar on drug abuse prevention and skills development designed to reach and empower the concerned sector. 

In partnering with the DSWD, the DDB explained that the sessions were highlighted by honest and open discussions about the physical, mental, and social impact of substance use. 

“Participants learned how to recognize risks, manage peer influence, and build positive coping strategies,’’ the DDB said.

The DDB stressed that the event became a space where the stakeholders expressed their struggles, shared their experiences and discovered ways to make healthier choices for themselves and their communities. 

Understanding that lack of opportunity often pushes young people toward risky behaviors, the DDB stated that the program also featured livelihood and skills training sessions that opened doors to employment and entrepreneurship. 

Under the program, the DDB said that the activities aided the participants to realize that self-reliance and hope can grow from education, discipline, and perseverance. 

Further, the DDB asserted that the initiative reflects its continuing effort to guide young people toward meaningful and productive lives while strengthening their role as partners in prevention and nation-building.