Continuum recovery : exploring community reintegration narratives of recovered drug dependents in Cainta, Rizal

Date

6-2023

Degree

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Nancy M. Landicho

Restrictions

Restricted: Not available to the general public. Access is available only after consultation with author/thesis adviser and only to those bound by the confidentiality agreement.

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Abstract

In the Philippines, illegal drug use remains a huge social problem. The number of individuals involved in illegal drug use remains high, while admissions to rehabilitation facilities were underwhelmingly low. Under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, a continuum of care should be given to recovering drug dependents to help them transition from facility-based treatment to community-based interventions. However, the extant literature on the process of community reintegration in the Philippines has only focused on the experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals. The study aimed to address this knowledge gap by exploring the experiences of recovering drug dependents in the aftercare program. Using the narrative approach in qualitative research, five recovered drug dependents who have completed 18 months of the aftercare program at the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Cainta, Rizal, were interviewed. The study found that the recovered drug dependents' experiences before, during, and after the aftercare were characterized by adjustments to the changes in the social environment, challenges encountered that impede positive change, and attempts to stay motivated to get through each phase. In the entirety of the rehabilitation process, counseling sessions and family interventions were found helpful to the individual's recovery. They see their post-aftercare experience as an opportunity to leave an unhealthy environment behind, a process of welcoming changes within the self, and a continuous process tied with strong family support. Comparing it with the indicators set by the Dangerous Drugs Board, a consensus is observed between the two. However, further inquiry can be done to better understand the participant's process of regaining self-esteem and changes in overall functioning. The study sheds light on the capacity of the aftercare program to help former drug dependents achieve a drug-free life. It raises points of improvement in the government's approach to solving the drug problem in the Philippines. Moreover, the study recommends considering other points of view regarding the aftercare program, such as those of the receiving family members and those who relapsed.

Language

English

LC Subject

Drug abuse, Drug addicts -- Rehabilitation, Drug abuse -- Treatment

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2023 S7 L56

Document Type

Thesis

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