SUGOD ASSISTS 577 USERS, DRUG ADDICTS IN 1ST YEAR
Organizers of the program vow to help more drug dependents recover from their addiction by opening additional programs before the year ends.
Shortly after the police’s Operation Tokhang started last year, a charismatic community responded to the Archdiocese of Cebu’s call to help with the rehabilitation and recovery of drug addicts.
Exactly one year after the Love of God community launched SuGod (Surrender to God), a faithbased community recovery and renewal program, it reported that it has assisted 577 drug addicts and users.
SuGod has catered to nine batches, with a total of 446 graduates aged 12 to 65 from different cities and municipalities in Cebu, Leyte, and Bohol. It also reported an overall success rate of 77 percent, which means seven to eight out of 10 participants finished the program.
“It is indeed effective in the sense that the people who experienced it claimed that it is a God-given opportunity for them to really surrender to God. This program has reached out to many lives,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who congratulated the organizers during their first anniversary celebration last Sunday.
He said that efforts to help recovering addicts must be continued and supported.
SuGod starts with a six-day intensive program called the SuGod Recovery and Renewal Program (SRRP), which focuses on recovery and renewal. Those who complete the SRRP move on to the next phase, the SuGod Continuing Care Program (SCCP), where the respondents learn how to live life without drugs and go to meetings to understand the Bibile and how to live life with God.
They will then have a chance to move into the SuGod Livingin-faith and Livelihood Program (SLLP), which helps sustain the drug dependents’ recovery by offering them a place to stay and a livelihood in a halfway house.
“It’s a holistic approach—you need to treat them physically, emotionally and spiritually. Everyone had very individualized treatment. SuGod’s approach is really faith-based but also individualized because we look at which aspect their addiction stems from and we address those needs,” said Malyn Cristobal, an addiction professional who conducts trainings for the facilitators.
Fe Barino, executive director of SuGod, said she started the program when President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Operation Tokhang will be conducted nationwide.
She shared that she feared for the many drug addicts who would be included in the Tokhang.
We’re very happy that the SuGod Program reached one year because with God’s grace, there was so much that happened and so many who we witnessed changed FE BARINO SuGod executive director
“We believe that they are ordinary people like us. They have hearts, they have lives, they love life, and they have a hope for life,” Barino said.
When the program started, Barino said they had no funds but donations started to trickle in. Aside from the regular activities of SuGod, they were able to offer food, haircut, snacks, drug tests and t-shirts, which cost some P3 million, using the donations of private individuals.
Emerson, 38, is a former addict who said that he had a difficult time even after his recovery because temptation was still there whenever he went home.
“It was heavy on my part because I had no God. When I started, some of my relatives were making fun of me but I ignored them and continued to commit to God and to the program. That was where my faith grew. Eventually, those same relatives came to me seeking help to start their own recovery,” said Emerson, whose wife and children left him because of his addiction.
After the program, he reconciled with his family and helped expand SuGod’s after-care program in Lapu-Lapu City. Emerson is now a facilitator for these support groups.
SuGod has drop-in centers at the Blessed Sacrament Church and in Barangay Ermita in Cebu City, Barangay Tipolo in Mandaue City, Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, and the Love of God Center, which is their headquarters.
They are also involved in the pastoral exposure of 10 seminarians from Seminaryo Mayor de San Carlos who assist them in their program.
SuGod is set to start two more programs in September and November.
“This is, for us, our response to the reality of drug problems,” said Palma. “Yes, there’s tokhang but we are willing to journey with those who have (drug) problems because we believe that there is always a possibility to change for the the better.” /