Shortly after the government began its war on drugs in 2016, 1.2 M surrendered and supposedly that 90% of surrenderees could be treated in the community. Unfortunately, in the Philippines, we associate drug use with rehabilitations centers or prisons and we don’t have any history of community-based rehab. The main approach appeared to be Simba (mass), Zumba (dance exercise) and Tumba (extra judicial killings). Unfortunately, surrenderees were going back to use. As one community leader reported, “Even if they pledge they will stop, they won’t because they don’t know how.”
Around the world, there was a growing recognition of the importance of evidence-based intervention which is practically non-existent in the country. This was a gap we in the PAP Taskforce on Drug Recovery sought to address Using participatory action research we identified needs and adapted existing modules. We created the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK). Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness it consisted of 12 modules on drug recovery and life skills. Topics included managing cravings, external triggers, drug refusal, healthy lifestyle, managing emotions, interpersonal skills, problem solving, recognizing their strengths, and planning for the future. Because families play an important role in recovery – there are 3 modules to help them understand and know how to support recovering users.
We trained community facilitators to deliver them and for the past year, we have been working with LGUs such as Quezon City, San Juan and Naga in pilot-testing them. It hasn’t been easy and we are learning much about the many challenges in implementing community-based programs. LGUs were not equipped with enough resources, facilities and manpower and we had to tap existing personnel many of whom did not have the behavioral sciences backgrounds. Many volunteered from the community but few actually delivered.
Despite these challenges, our initial results are heartening –improved coping skills, improved life skills, improved psychological wellbeing, decreased substance use dependence symptoms, and 5% lapse rate based on random drug testing. But beyond the numbers, what makes it worth it are the stories of recovery and redemption. There is Kuya R whose family almost gave up on him because of how miserable their lives became. Today, he is gainfully employed and according to his wife and kids, a better husband and a better father. It took a supportive community and LGU, caring government officials and facilitators to help him turn his life around. But we would also like to think that at least some part of his recovery was because of what he learned from the program. According to him, “Alam ko na ang kailangan kong gawin para umiwas. Matatag na ako” (I know what I need to do to stay away from drugs. I am stronger).
Kuya R is not alone. Our participants recently reported that pushers came around to their community offering free drugs. They not only said “no” – they asked them to stay away from their community. “Malinis na kami dito – umais kayo at huwag niyo kaming guluhin” (Our community is clean, leave and don't bother us). It is stories like these that give us hope for every person and community struggling with the issue of drugs.
More importantly, what we hope to do is present an alternative to the violence. Ate A, who was asked to speak when her cohort graduated from the program shared, “Ang kailangan naming hindi takot, sumbat at galit kasi alam namin nagkasala kami. Ang nakatulong sa amin yung pagkalinga at tulong kung papaano magbago.” (We didn’t need fear, anger or sermons because we know we made mistakes. What really helped us was the care and guidance we received on how to change ourselves). This is what KKDK is about – a means for community members to come together and provide the support and a means by which recovering users find redemption.
Around the world, there was a growing recognition of the importance of evidence-based intervention which is practically non-existent in the country. This was a gap we in the PAP Taskforce on Drug Recovery sought to address Using participatory action research we identified needs and adapted existing modules. We created the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK). Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness it consisted of 12 modules on drug recovery and life skills. Topics included managing cravings, external triggers, drug refusal, healthy lifestyle, managing emotions, interpersonal skills, problem solving, recognizing their strengths, and planning for the future. Because families play an important role in recovery – there are 3 modules to help them understand and know how to support recovering users.
We trained community facilitators to deliver them and for the past year, we have been working with LGUs such as Quezon City, San Juan and Naga in pilot-testing them. It hasn’t been easy and we are learning much about the many challenges in implementing community-based programs. LGUs were not equipped with enough resources, facilities and manpower and we had to tap existing personnel many of whom did not have the behavioral sciences backgrounds. Many volunteered from the community but few actually delivered.
Despite these challenges, our initial results are heartening –improved coping skills, improved life skills, improved psychological wellbeing, decreased substance use dependence symptoms, and 5% lapse rate based on random drug testing. But beyond the numbers, what makes it worth it are the stories of recovery and redemption. There is Kuya R whose family almost gave up on him because of how miserable their lives became. Today, he is gainfully employed and according to his wife and kids, a better husband and a better father. It took a supportive community and LGU, caring government officials and facilitators to help him turn his life around. But we would also like to think that at least some part of his recovery was because of what he learned from the program. According to him, “Alam ko na ang kailangan kong gawin para umiwas. Matatag na ako” (I know what I need to do to stay away from drugs. I am stronger).
Kuya R is not alone. Our participants recently reported that pushers came around to their community offering free drugs. They not only said “no” – they asked them to stay away from their community. “Malinis na kami dito – umais kayo at huwag niyo kaming guluhin” (Our community is clean, leave and don't bother us). It is stories like these that give us hope for every person and community struggling with the issue of drugs.
More importantly, what we hope to do is present an alternative to the violence. Ate A, who was asked to speak when her cohort graduated from the program shared, “Ang kailangan naming hindi takot, sumbat at galit kasi alam namin nagkasala kami. Ang nakatulong sa amin yung pagkalinga at tulong kung papaano magbago.” (We didn’t need fear, anger or sermons because we know we made mistakes. What really helped us was the care and guidance we received on how to change ourselves). This is what KKDK is about – a means for community members to come together and provide the support and a means by which recovering users find redemption.