PREVENTION IS KEY. Xavier Ateneo Psychology Department and the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) join forces to capacitate local health leaders to handle a community-based relapse drug prevention program. Contributed photo.
By Jason Manaois
The national government's War on Drugs has resulted in a substantial number of drug-surrenderees in local communities.
The Xavier Ateneo Psychology Department and the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) saw the need to capacitate local health leaders to handle a community-based relapse drug prevention program.
To this end, PAP and XU-Psych organized a four-day facilitators’ training on basic counseling and facilitation, and a workshop on Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad comprised of 12 individual modules and three family modules.
The said training was designed for community facilitators with experience in facilitation and counseling with behavioral science undergraduate background (psychology, nursing, and social work, among others).
Meanwhile, the workshop was interactive, with the use of videos, worksheets, and simulations. Participants were asked to simulate facilitating a module and serve in small-group discussions.
The goal of the program is to train community facilitators (local government unit officers, barangay health workers, and community leaders) to teach drug-surrenderees life-skills to prevent relapse on illegal drug use.
TRAINING. A total of 60 participants from Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Surigao, Cotabato, and Davao attended the said XU-PAP event. Contributed photo.
The goals and components of community-based drug treatment interventions were also introduced to the participants. They were required to attend the program, simulate facilitation of at least one module, and pass coaches’ evaluation to receive a certificate of completion.
A total of 60 participants from Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Surigao, Cotabato, and Davao attended the said event.
“Inaalay namin itong manwal at modyul sa mga komunidad, pamilya, at mga taong nagpupursiging iwan ang buhay na may droga. Aming paniniwala na bagamat ang pagkalulong sa bawal na gamot ay isang pangmatagalang sakit, ito ay isang sakit na kayang lagpasan,” shared Dr Ma Regina M Hechanova, head of PAP Taskforce on Community-based Drug Recovery Support.
(We offer this manual and its modules to the communities, families, and people who are pursuing to leave the life of illegal drug use. We believe that even though drug abuse is chronic, it can be surpassed.)
“Nawala man sa landas ang isang taong gumamit ng droga, sila ay tao pa rin na may mga pangarap at may kahalagahan. Aming taimtim na paniwala na kapag nabigyan sila ng sapat na suporta ay may kakayahan silang gumawa ng higit na mabuting mga desisyon at maghilom. Kailangan nila ng isang komunidad na kumakalinga sa kanila at ng mga taong nagmamalasakit na abutin ang kanilang mga kamay upang tulungan silang magbagong-buhay,” she added.
(A drug user may have lost his track, but he/she is still human with dreams and value. Our sincere belief is that when drug users are provided for with enough support they will have the capacity to decide rightly and help heal themselves. They need a supportive community and caring people who will reach out to them to help them change their lives.)
XU-Psych remains committed to the vision-mission of the university by being responsive to the issues confronted by the different communities of Mindanao, particularly on issues related to peace, mental health, and well-being. ∎
SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSION. Participants were required to attend the program, simulate facilitation of at least one module, and pass coaches’ evaluation to receive a certificate of completion. Contributed photo.