The soaring popularity of methamphetamine - a cheap and highly addictive drug – is overburdening health services and tearing families and communities apart in Southeast Asia, driving many countries to adopt hardline policies to fight the surge in narcotics use.
. La Union, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users who call themselves "Recovering Champions" are blindfolded as part of their rehabilitation program organised by the government of San Fernando.
The toughest action has been taken in the Philippines where President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs has killed nearly 2,288 people since he was sworn into office on June 30.
The campaign has pushed 700,000 drug users and pushers to register with authorities in a process termed “surrendering”.
There are few programs or facilities to help them.
. La Union, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A drug user is seen inside a classroom turned into a makeshift dormitory during rehabilitation program organised by the government of San Fernando.
Until the government recently announced plans for a new “mega” rehab center, the Philippines had just 44 private and public treatment facilities with a combined capacity of only 7,200, according to the chairman of the country’s drug policy-making body, Benjamin Reyes.
The new “mega” rehab centre, funded by a charitable donation from Chinese real estate developer Huang Rulun, will be able to treat up to 10,000 patients. The government has said it is planning four more mega treatment centers elsewhere in the country.
. Antipolo, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A drug user holds a Bible at Center for Christian Recovery, a private drug rehabilitation center.
In the meantime, local governments and private centres are trying to plug the gaps.
Private rehabilitation can range from support groups led by clergy in the predominately Catholic nation, to costly treatment programs that charge hundreds of dollars a month, putting them out of reach for most Filipinos.
. Olongapo, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
In Olongapo, a city of 220,000 three hours north of Manila, drug users are taught carpentry skills and paid 5,000 Philippine pesos ($103) a month to build wooden coffins. The caskets, made of simple plywood and painted white, are provided to the poorest families in the city who are unable to afford funeral services, government officials said.
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Slideshow
. La Union, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A portrait of president Rodrigo Duterte hangs in a classroom occupied by drug users during a weekend drug rehabilitation program organised by the government of San Fernando.
. La Union, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users who call themselves "Recovering Champions" take a rest inside a classroom turned into a makeshift dormitory during a rehabilitation program organised by the government of San Fernando.
. La Union, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users who call themselves "Recovering Champions" crawl on mud as part of their rehabilitation program organised by the government of San Fernando.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A newly-admitted drug user gets his head shaved at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users exercise at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Uniforms of drug users hang outside the isolation building at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A drug user, who took hostage his baby during a visit from his family, sits inside an isolation cell as a punishment for his behaviour at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A dentist prepares to extract a tooth of a drug user at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users get computer training as part of a recovery training and livelihood project at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users pray inside a chapel of Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users sleep with their shirts over their heads during siesta at a dormitory for newly-arrived patients at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A female drug user puts finishing touches on her art painting inside a dormitory hall of Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
A guard checks on drug users sleeping inside a dormitory hall of Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users take part in a performance as if they were arrested by policemen in a drug raid, during a ceremony marking the completion of six months drug rehabilitation of 48 patients at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
. Pampanga, Philippines. Reuters/Erik De Castro
Drug users who completed six months drug rehabilitation program receive a statue of Baby Jesus or St Nino at Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center.
