COSAP expects more drug-cleared brgys soon

The City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) expects more barangays to be declared drug-cleared following the establishment of community-based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP) in all 80 barangays of Cebu City.

The community-based drug rehabilitation program is one of the requirements needed for a barangay to be “drug cleared” under the national government’s Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP).The program runs for four months.

“I am very proud to say that all of our barangays have their own active community based rehabilitation program,” said COSAP chief Jonah John Rodriguez.

Rodriguez himself joined barangay officials, local police, and personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in visiting and convincing those in the drug watch-list to undergo rehabilitation.

COSAP also tapped former drug addicts as “recovery coaches” to facilitate the aftercare and rehabilitation process to better relate to the situation.

Rodriguez admitted he has received death threats before but managed to convince more drug addicts at the end to undergo rehabilitation.

“At first mo-resist sila, but they eventually understand the program. Malipay gani ko nga sila o’ ilang mga relatives mismo moduol namo para magpasalamat,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also emphasized the need for strong family support to help suspected drug users to recover.

“Importante gyud ang family sa recovery process. Kung usa ka recovering drug addict gikan nag rehab, pero dili wala nga madudahan sa iyang pamilya bisan og nagusab na siya. Instead nga mo-recover siya, mobalik siya og relapse,” he added.

He also reminded families to have patience with close relatives who are recovering from drug addiction.

“Let us remember that they are victims. Drug addiction is a brain relapsing disease and it needs intervention,” Rodriguez said.

Currently, the City of Cebu has 25 out of 80 barangays already declared as drug-cleared.

These drug-cleared barangays include Cambinocot, Kasambagan, Zapatera, Budlaan, Kamagayan, Agsungot, Binaliw, Tabunan, Punta Princesa, Kalubihan, Adlaon, Basak Pardo, Buot, Kinasang-an, Lusaran, San Antonio, Pamutan, Parian, Sudlon 1, Sudlon 2, Toong, Sto. Niño, Sapangdaku, and Sinsin.

Late last month, the Department of Interior and Local GovernmentCebu City also reported that Barangay T. Padilla conducted the graduation of its 4th Batch of CBDRP.

The latest batch had 16 completers and only has three remaining personalities set to finish the CBDRP program. Barangay Captain Irene Nada hopes to finally be drug-cleared soon.