LGU Linamon conducts reformatory program for drug dependents

By Jun Enriquez

Participants in drug reformatory process

Linamon, Lanao del Norte - Mayor Randy Macapil of Linamon initiated reformatory program for drug dependents already surrendered  to authorities. He said local government of Linamon had difficulties in the budget to establish rehabilitation center. Macapil said reformatory program is the alternative in the absence of rehabilitation center to cut the chain of Illegal drug supply in the area. Reformatory is an awareness program such as conducting exercises, lectures and testimonies, skills trainings among others. Macapil said "today (July 30, 2016) is the second time of having this reformatory activity along with our drug dependents constituents." It is a walk activity started at 5:00 O'clock in the morning at Linamon  . He said  are 400 surrendered drug dependents in Linamon as to this date.

Mayor Randy J. Macapil delivered a message during the
program on reformatory walk exercise

Glen Delusa, a former drug dependent for 14 years was first try and taste illegal drug called “shabu” for curiosity sake during his youger days. He went to the process of drug rehabilitation twice but after then he goes back again and again to drug addiction. Delusa said drug rehabilitation is not a guarantee of a person not to go back to drug addiction. He was one of the listed individuals and surrendered voluntarily to give time to reform himself as his personal commitment. Delusa said private rehabilitation will cost PhP20,000.00 per month. Others at lower cost at PhP15,000 monthly and government rehabilitation will cost PhP8,000 per month

Delusa said drug addiction was understood as “use to live and live to use” illegal drugs. He said he did not expect to become drug addict. He only detected himself he was already addicted because he will find ways just to use drugs. Delusa said in drug addiction there is a belief of reward system. The addictive person will increase its desire as much as 60 percent and thinking of themselves that they already at the top of the world. Delusa said that the presence of video “karera” games will aggravate the situation of the addictive person become more severe in nature that the desire should always be happy.

From left front row: Mayor Macapil, Judge Arthur Abundiente,
Mrs. Macapil and Vice Mayor Cheche Pestolante

Delusa said the medical term of drug addiction is called “substance use disorder” (SUD). He preferred not to use the word rehabilitation because a person is believed to be severely in a state of disorder and will be subjected to public humiliation. He said better to use the word reformatory because it is more socially acceptable. Drug addiction is a kind of incurable disease called “chronic relapsing brain disease” if repeatedly acquired the use of illegal drugs by a person and not medically treated.

Delusa said the government should help the drug dependents to have a prevention program a continuum of care for drug dependents. Delusa said continued denial of a drug dependent person including the family members will prolong the suffering of drug addiction. He said this usually happened to evade public humiliation.  

Mayor Macapil said that the reformatory program will continue to give importance and care to the surrendered drug dependent personalities to go back to normal lives. He said the “tok-hang” (toktok hangyo) activities will also continue to ask those persons in the list of drug dependents to surrender, led by the local officials of Linamon together with the Police personnel, Barangay officials, military and the community. Macapil said cooperation is the most important to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs to save the future of the people especially the future of the children to bring back human dignity. Macapil said the reformatory program is in support to the program of President Duterte in fighting illegal drugs. (with reports by Joan Eslit; Photo courtesy from FB of Mayor Randy J. Macapil.