Community-Based Drug Rehab Prog Helps Drug Dependents in Talisay City

An out-patient rehabilitation for drug dependents has been operating in Talisay City for two years now.

Dr. Rey Ceasar Bautista, medical officer of Talisay City and accredited Department of Health (DOH) physician for drug prevention and control, said DOH along with local government units and other key government agencies has a program in Talisay City that treats drug dependents outside the confines of a conventional rehabilitation center.

The Talisay City Outpatient and Rehabilitation After Care Program initially accepted those that served six to eight months inside the government-run Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Argao.

Bautista said they are applying the 12 Steps Base Recovery Program, a more personal and community-based rehabilitation program adopted by DOH.

Community based rehabilitation is recommended by DOH to local government units as a means to address the surge of drug “surrenderees” after the intensive campaign of the government to solve the drug problem.

“Drug addiction is not curable but it can be treated. Recovery is possible but it has to be done on a daily  basis,” Bautista said.

Under the program, patients are monitored with weekly drug testing and they undergo counseling.

“Eighty percent of the drug dependents want to stop but they don’t know how, and so we are here to listen and to bring back their self esteem,” Bautista said.

He said they already have successful treatments.

He mentioned four of them who are already hired as job orders of Talisay City government.

They also have former patients who are now active as counselors to the new ones.

But prior to that, Bautista emphasized the need for proper assessment to determine the kind of treatment.

He said there are those that may be diagnosed to have a mental problem instead of substance abuse.

Other agencies who are now working for the sustainability and expansion of the facility include Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Talisay LGU and also the provincial government. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)