Five years ago, I wrote something about the training of officials and other staffs of government treatment and rehabilitation centers (TRCs) on more effective means to handle addicts.
The approach, called Therapeutic Community Modality (TCM), is the standard method of rehabilitation for people with substance-abused problems. It allows drug dependent to live in a community under a daily routine similar to the approach of California Drug Rehabilitation. It involves constant ‘reality checks’ on the part of each individual through immediate processing by the center’s staff on the cause and effect of their behaviours toward each community members.
There are about 66 rehab centers in the country that are currently employing various approaches in their treatment of drug users like the Drug Rehab in California. Some of these rehab centers are using Faith-based Modality, where behavioral change is encouraged through faith, and may include various religious principles which emphasize respect for oneself and others. Others centers are using modality associated with support groups with members as former alcoholics. The California Drug Rehab operates the same way as most of our present rehab centers.
Personnel who underwent trainings include local doctors, psychologists, nurses, social workers and other paramedical staff. The implementation of the TCM will reduce the number of relapse cases among recovered drug dependents.
I had an opportunity to visit a drug rehab in the southern part of Metro Manila and interviewed four individuals who were former drug dependents. They were hooked on ecstacy, a party drug known by its several street names – X, Rave, Love Drug, Flying Saucer, LBD “Libidoâ€, Jagged Little Pill, Artist Drug, Hug Drug, MDA, MDEA, XTC, E, Eckie, Love Doves. I heard the weirdest to the kinkiest stories.
The drug treatment facility has slowly helped them recover from addiction. But it took a while before they had accepted their condition. They were dealing with denial at the initial stage of the treatment, but with the proper medication and encouragement from their families, their friends, medical staff down to their own peers inside the rehab, they were able to pull through.