Negros Occ. LGUs start drug users rehab

BACOLOD CITY — More than 500 moderate drug users in Negros Occidental are now undergoing community-based drug rehabilitation, through the efforts of local government units of Victorias City and Murcia.

The two local government units have taken the initiative by starting the rehabilitation of drug dependents in their respective areas, even as the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) of Negros Occidental called on LGUs to do their share in the reformation of moderate drug users.

More than 11,000 drug dependents and peddlers have surrendered to the Oplan Tokhang campaign of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office from July to September.

The three-month voluntary outpatient program—called PAG-AMLIG—in Victorias City for 495 drug dependents kicked off the other day. This program is patterned after a Cebu-based Rehabilitation Treatment Facility called FARM (Family and Recovery Management) which adapts the 12steps program of Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Dino Acuña, core group moderator, said PAG-AMLIG aims to create a program available to the highest quality addictions and co-recurring disorders, combining a thorough barangay-based treatment within a three-month period.

The PAG-AMLIG, which simultaneously started in the different barangays of Victorias City, will end January 25 next year.

Forty-four other drug dependents in Murcia, Negros Occidental, also started Monday their five-day close door initial rehabilitation and assessment program at the Green Pasture’s Retreat House in Barangay Santa Cruz of the town.

On October 7, 14 of the 50 moderate drug users in Silay City also completed an 8-week outpatient and community-based rehabilitation program.

Seventy-three other moderate drug dependents also completed the Wellness Camp program of the PADAC, in tandem with the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, the Provincial Health Office, the Social Welfare and Development Office, the Parole and Probation Administration, the TESDA and the Inter-Faith Organization.

Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano said the municipal government will help those who volunteered themselves to change. Dubbed as “Murcia’s 1st Step Reconciliation Recovery Program Cycle,” Montelibano said it will replicate the program to many persons, who are into substance abuse.

The module of the 5-day initial rehabilitation program consists of family reconciliation and healing, process of change engagement, addiction and resistance, understanding legal implications and livelihood opportunities, among others.

Murcia recorded the highest number of surrendered drug dependents with 800 individuals, who admitted to be either drug users or pushers, in line with the Oplan Tokhang campaign of the PNP.