DILG to Cordillera LGUs: Boost drug rehab program

BAGUIO CITY – The Dept. of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera urged local government units in the region to continually provide persons who used drugs (PWUDS) easy access to rehabilitation and reintegration programs of government considering use and abuse of illegal drugs is a societal problem which requires immediate intervention.
    “It is one of our mandates to safeguard the well-being of the public and establish a healthcare system that is accessible and affordable,” said regional director Araceli San Jose.
    The call was made in support of the President’s declaration that the campaign against illegal drugs should start in the barangays and should promote participation of communities in addressing drug abuse.
    “Our local governments should take the lead in implementing and monitoring Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation (CBDRP). The provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays may implement their own programs if there is a perceived need due to a high number of surrenderees or PWUDs in the area and if they are capable of implementing the CBDRP,” said San Jose.
    San Jose added all LGUs shall process and review the certification of their CBDRP in accordance with Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Board Regulation (BR) No. 4, series of 2020 or the guidelines for the oversight of general interventions.
     “All general interventions and Community-Based Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Programs (CBDTRPs) implemented by the LGUs including those implemented by partner agencies and organizations must be documented and certified in compliance with the minimum service requirements provided in relevant orders of the Dept. of Health and DDB,” she said.
    She also added that the Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs) should perform self-evaluation of existing intervention programs for PWUDs implemented in their respective areas of jurisdiction using the CBDRP checklist.

“The Provincial/City/Municipal ADACs should submit their intervention programs they are providing to the Regional Dangerous Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program (RDDAPTTP) Coordinators or DOH coordinator for review and certification of their CBDRP,” said RD San Jose.

Noting, “the program must be endorsed by the ADACs and attested by the LGU Health Officer wherein they can now implement their CBDRP once the LGUs receive the certification from the DOH,” she added.

Based on DILG memorandum circular No. 2018 -125, CBDRP refers to an integrated model for drug users with moderate risk of drug dependence and with mild severity of addiction which has two core components including Community-Based Support Services (CBSS) that provides activities that can contribute to the well-being of PWUDs, and community-based treatment (CBT) which provides a continuum services from health to non – specialists assistance to meet the PWUDs needs.

San Jose said PWUDs who volunteer to submit themselves and undergo rehabilitation will be referred as surrenderees wherein they are given brief intervention by the ADACs of the LGUs.

“The ADACs shall discuss the benefits of undergoing rehabilitation, the CBDRP and other interventions the surrenderer may avail of depending on the PWUD’s needs,” she said.

San Jose also called on the ADACs to conduct annual post-program monitoring of CBDRP graduates to avoid relapse and determine if further intervention is needed for rehabilitation and/or intervention. -- (BLM/DILG_CAR)