178,000 graduate from gov’t drug rehab program
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported that 178,353 drug surrenderers have graduated from community based drug rehabilitation centers.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said the surrenderers “have already turned a new leaf as they have completed the community-based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP).’’
Under the program, surrenderers who were assessed to have mild to moderate drug affectation are provided with interventions such as psychosocial support, recovery skills, psychoeducation, relapse prevention skills, life skills, family intervention, case management, counselling, and education/employment support.
“The government has no other goal but to provide drug users who want to change with new lease on life,” he said.
Nine out of 10 surrenderers have mild cases of drug affectation as they are provided with intervention, while those severely affected are sent to a drug treatment facility.
Año said Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) has the biggest number of CBDRP graduates: 38,973 from 99 municipalities and 11,870 graduates from 19 cities.
Region VII ranks second with 22,938 graduates from 90 municipalities and 1,633 graduates from nine cities.
Region I is third with 19,999 graduates from 98 municipalities and 3,846 from eight cities.
All local government units (LGUs) are urged to have their own CBDRP.
Graduates of the program are issued a clearance by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
DILG Undersecretary Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri urged Vice President Leni Robredo to help President Duterte in eradicating the Illegal drug problem instead of “throwing shade” on the government’s fight against drugs.
“In spite of our significant antiillegal drugs accomplishments, we need to exert more efforts to finally end the drug menace. Let us help one another,” said Echiverri.
He was reacting to Robredo’s pronouncements questioning the effectiveness of the anti drug campaign, citing alleged violation of human rights.