FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY

Deterrence Theory (2015) advances the proposition that individuals are

rational beings and wish to maximize their pleasure and minimize their pain (Cullen
et al., 2013, p. 417). Rooted in this concept of Deterrence Theory are three elements
that contribute to the expected cost of punishment: the probability of arrest,
probability of conviction, and the severity of the punishment (MacCoun, 1993). To
dissuade individuals from participating in prohibited activities the cost of
committing the crime must be high enough to deter the commencement of the crime
(Mendes, 2004, p. 1). Conflict theory (2013) is a macro level theory that attempts to
explain deviance by way of class, income, politics, and geography. It is not a
coincidence that many of our society’s hard drug abusers come from impoverished
areas. With fewer and fewer well-paying jobs available to untrained or uneducated
workers, drug dealing has become a very attractive source of income for those in
poverty-stricken areas. With the increase in drug dealing comes the increase of drug
availability. The "Gateway Drug Theory" (2018) describes the phenomenon in
which an introduction to drug-using behavior through the use of tobacco, alcohol, or
marijuana is related to subsequent use of other illicit drugs. The theory suggests that,
all other things being equal, an adolescent who uses any one drug is more likely to
use another drug. In practice, early introduction to substance use for adolescents is
often through tobacco and/or alcohol. These two drugs are considered the first "gate"
for most adolescents.

Substance dependency statistics show that drug consumption (cannabis,

cocaine, and heroin) in South Africa is twice the global average and second to none
in Africa (UN World Drug Report, 2014). The average age of drug dependency in
South Africa is 12 years and deceasing. South Africa is among the top 10 narcotics
and alcohol abusers in the world. For every 100 people, 15 have a drug problem and
for every 100 Rands in circulation, 25 Rands are linked to the substance abuse
problem (Christian Addiction Support, 2016).

Hypothesis

In Local literature review the study of Reyes (2016) conducted that in

Duterte’s “war on drugs”, state power is exercised through the body in a spectacle

of humiliation and violence. The analysis draws from the work of Foucault (1979)
on the political value of a spectacle of the body to explain the distinctive character

of Duterte’s violent war on drugs; of Feldman (1991) on the use of the body as an

object in which violence is embodied to send political messages; of Agamben (1995)

on eliminating life supposedly devoid of value; and on Mumford et al. (2007), who

pointed to the popularity of “violent ideological leaders.”. Bautista and Prado (2016)

on their study of President Rodrigo Duterte had wage an all-out campaign against

illegal drugs since he assumed office. Duterte’s administration believes that the

illegal drugs are the root of all crime, thus illegal drugs trades in the Philippines has

to stop. There are three basic types of drug related crimes ; offenses defined by drug

possession or sales; offenses directly to drug abused; and offenses related to a

lifestyle that predisposes the drug abuser to engaged in illegal activity, one in which

the offender is under the influence of drugs or alcohol just before or during the

commission of the crime. The study conducted by Simangan (2017) the newly

elected Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte took office in June 2016, more than

7,000 deaths have been linked to his ongoing “war on drugs.” Despite international

condemnation of extrajudicial and vigilante killings, the statistics show no sign of

slowing down and the administration remains firm in eradicating people engaged in

illegal drugs. On the study of Bautista (2017) The president’s relentless campaign to

eliminate drugs in the country has resulted in a rapidly rising number of deaths

occurring on a daily basis. A little more than six months into the presidency of
Rodrigo Duterte, records show that his anti-drug war campaign has resulted in over

7,000 deaths, or an average of more than 30 people summarily executed in

extrajudicial fashion every day. 1 The populist president, whilst otherwise

hypersensitive to criticism, remains unfazed by almost universal condemnation by

the international community over the extrajudicial killings in the country. According

to Magato (2016) on his study A Davao-based human rights group, the Coalition

Against Summary Execution (CASE), has compiled figures showing that death

squads in the city were responsible for at least 1,400 documented killings

between 1998 and 2015. Scaled up, Duterte’s war on drugs is now well under

way across the nation, and the body count is setting records.
REFERENCES:

Cullen, F., Agnew, R., & Wilcox, P. (2013) “Deterrence Theory and the War on Drugs” from
https://marcustmaximus.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/deterrence-theory-and-the-war-on-drugs/

Lara L. (2013) “Deviance & Drug Use” from http://devianceanddruguse.blogspot.com/

Robert, G. & Blakely P. (2018) “Gateway Drug Theory” from

https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/gateway-drug-theory
Christian Addiction Support, (2016), Latest Drug Statistics – South Africa 2016 from
https://christiandrugsupport.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/latest-drug-statistics-south-africa-2016/
accessed 28 June 2016

Werb, D. Thomas, K. Bohdan, N. Steffanie, S. Julio, M. and Evan, W. (2013) U.S. Drug Policy and

Supply-Side Strategies: Assessing Effectiveness and Results from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1870355016300039