The Drug Rehabilitation Center Project in Irisan, Baguio City

           Euphoria or being "high" is one of the immediate effects of crystalline methamphetamine, also known as Shabu or poor man’s cocaine. Shabu is one of the most common and widely used illegal drugs in the country, according to Asia and Pacific Amphetamine-Type Stimulants Information Centre (APAIC). It would only take a few minutes or hours for a user to feel high and full of energy, depending whether he/she swallowed, inhaled or injected the crystal meth. However, a few moments of heightened energy and happiness would eventually take its toll. In the long run, a shabu user would experience insomnia, anxiety, weight loss, hallucination, psychosis, violent behavior, kidney damage, and inflammation of the lining of the heart that might eventually result in death. The long-term effects of drug abuse are alarming not only for the users, but also for their family.

 

Source: The Sara Bellum Blog

An edited effects on how drugs affect an individual's health

            According to Bob (not his real name), a college graduate and is now working at a small company in Cebu, when you are under the influence of shabu, you feel  fresh like after taking a bath. He said that when you are "high"(the term he used when a person is under the influence of drugs), you can't sleep and you can't feel exhaustion. You feel like you can do everything, he added. "I wanted more it was very addictive, but it will depend on how you control yourself. I know that if I let myself fall to addiction, it will be very difficult to stop." When he was asked why he used shabu, he said that "kapag may problema ako, ito lang ang nagbibigay sa akin ng peace of mind." After you got "high" and the effect wears off, you will feel exhausted and do not feel like eating anything, Bob added.
             Another former shabu user, Barad (also not his real name), a male college student in one of the colleges in Bohol shared  what he felt when he used the drug. He confirmed the same sensations Bob felt, but he added  "if you want to be violent, you can be violent." He also said that some people turn crazy, because they did not control themselves  from over-dosage. When asked why he used shabu, he claimed that a teacher required them to try it, so they would know what it feels like when a person is under the influence of illegal drugs.
            The two were asked if they tried other addictive drugs aside from shabu, but they said that they only used shabu. According to Cait Saul, in his online article in The Cabin, shabu or crystal meth is the drug choice for 90% Filipino drug users. "In the Philippines, shabu is a considerably cheap drug."
             In an online of APAIC, in 2009, Crystal meth is the number one most commonly used illegal drug in the Philippines. Other drugs are cannabis herb, inhalants, benzodiazepines, ecstasy, cocaine, and ketamine. These illegal drugs canbe found here in the country, and are sold to people especially teenagers. There is a 10% increase in crystal meth users compared to 2008, and almost 2% of the country's population are drug users.

Images of illegal drugs.Source: http://s4.hubimg.com/u/2219023_f248.jpg

           According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Cordillera Administrative Region (PDEA-CAR), the number of drug-related cases in the region is rising. According to the statistics given by PDEA-CAR, there are 201 drug related cases recorded from January 1, 2011 – January 31, 2012, 17 of which involved minors.

            Upon tackling the issue, they came up with the proposal of putting up a rehabilitation center. They said that there is a need for a government-owned rehabilitation center in the region to meet the needs of the families that have a drug-dependent family member. Currently, public institutions or rehabilitation centers are located in Taguig, Angeles City, Quezon City, Parañaque City, Antipolo City, etc. There is a private institution that can be found in Suello Road, Ben Highway, Baguio City, the Serenity at the Quarry (SAQ), a drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment center.

In order for the project to pursue, the proposal should receive the approval of the different agencies and departments, such as the city council, Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (OCSWDO), and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) of the Philippines. However, PDEA also mentioned that National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) is still weighing the pros and cons of the project.

Vice Mayor Daniel T. Fariñas, action officer of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) said that the Baguio city council had approved the plans of putting up a rehabilitation center. The CADAC and DDB, according to him, also support the project.

In a Sun Star Baguio article written by JM Agenda that was published December 1, 2011, Vice Mayor Fariñas talked to DDB Secretary Antonio Villar Jr. and Undersecretary Edgar Galvante about the construction of the rehabilitation center. Sec. Villar, and Usec. Galvante offered Php 10 million funding for the rehabilitation center. Fariñas mentioned that the only problem is the site for the rehabilitation center.  Mayor Mauricio Domogan, meanwhile, said that the city government property in Irisan would be used as the site for the said project.

Possible site for the rehabilitation center will be beside the Social Development Center (SDC) Complex in Belnben, Irisan. Photo by: Melissa Tamayo

Social Development Center head, Liza Bulayungan, was asked regarding the site and she said that there is a proposed project, but it is not yet approved. When asked if she thinks that there is a need for a rehabilitation center, she replied, "hindi naman kailangan kasi konti lang naman yung cases at kadalasan nirerefer naman sila sa Laguna, Taguig, at iba pa [ there is no need since there are only few cases and they are usually referred in Laguna, Taguig, etc.]." SDC is an organization under the local government of Baguio that currently handles male minors with ongoing cases, such as drugs, rape, theft, etc.

On the other hand, Nestor A. Mestito, assitant officer of OCSWDO, said that OCWSDO pursues the construction of the rehabilitation center since they are aware of the need for one.

Mestito said that OCSWDO, after conducting a case study about the minors involved in a drug case, would give referrals for the minors to be sent to institutions or rehabilitation centers. According to him, those who will be sent to the institution are those who are willing to be admitted. If an individual does not agree, the OCSWDO will raise a case to the court with the request of the family. OCSWDO usually refer institutions that are located in Manila, Taguig, and Las Pinas. However, according to Mestito, a private rehabilitation center usually costs around Php 40, 000 a week. Shalom house, a non-government organization, used to offer counselling for those drug dependent individuals, said Mestito. Nevertheless, it did not work out because they became inactive due to insufficient funds.  Putting up a rehabilitation center in Irisan would help families with family members who are drug dependent.

Mestito added that the site in Irisan would be a good location to put up a rehabilitation center. He said that is it is not recommended to construct the project within the city vicinity. The institution must be strategically far to avoid escape attempts, especially by those patients with withdrawal symptoms, and since their goal is to build a community-based approach rehabilitation center.  The rehabilitation will cater not only to drug-dependent minors, but also to alcoholic individuals.  

The surrounding of the possible site for the rehabilitation center has few houses.  Photo by: Melissa Tamayo

It will be better to have a government-owned rehabilitation center to help them, but there are problems upon building the project. Mestito said that an institution-based project would cost a lot of money, not only on the structure and the staff, but also for the maintenance of the institution.

             Is there a program for regular funding for the project? Is there an office that will monitor and maintain the rehabilitation center? Is there a land to build the project? If there is, is there social acceptability? Is the place conducive for the project? These questions were raised by Virgina L. Anceno, Sr EDS of NEDA-CAR, when asked about of the construction of the rehabilitation center. 

NEDA said that there is a lot to be considered before building a rehabilitation center. They argued that there are only limited resources and it is not a priority project. Anceno said that construction of the building is already expensive, what more the maintenance of the facility, and there is a need for a cost-benefit analysis. According to Anceno, “hindi naman sa ayaw namin gumanda ang buhay nila, pero kailangang iconsider yung overall [it's not that we don't want them to have better lives, but there is a need to consider the overall].” There is need to look at the social, the economical, the political, and the environmental factors before the approval the project.

NEDA also expressed concern about the market of the project. Anceno asked if there are high drug related cases to put up a rehabilitation center. It would be a waste of money to construct a structure that would not be used.

             To answer the question raised by NEDA about the need for a rehabilitation center, Vice Mayor Farinas said that there is a need. In fact, there are numbers of request by families to put up a rehabilitation center. Families complained that the rehabilitation centers in Metro Manila require a lot of money including the travel fees. Another reason for constructing a rehabilitation center aside from the growing number of the involved individuals in illegal drugs, according to Mestito, Baguio City is now highly urbanized that is prone for the selling and using of illegal drugs.

            There is an on-going feasibility study, conducted by Addicts and Alcoholics Carrying the Message Association (AACMA), regarding the construction of the rehabilitation center. AACMA is a non-government organization composed of people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. They advocate treatment recovery through intervention and spiritual principles.

           There is no definite date yet when result of the feasibility study will be released.  Mestito said that the draft of the Memorandum of Agreement is yet to be finalized. He mentioned that the proposed rehabilitation center is a tie-up project of the city government and a private institution, however, this information is yet to be confirmed. 

                                                                                      -Irene Dolino & Melissa Tamayo