BAGUIO CITY – The city government here spearheaded by the city social welfare and development office in partnership with other government and non government organization, private as well as religious sector continues to serve and support Persons with Substance Use Disorder (PSUDs) in the city of Baguio.
One of which is the Baguio City Response to Addiction (BERA) wherein a series of sessions where drug surrenderees were being educated on how drugs causes a long term harm on their health as well as families, how to improve their growth spiritually and how to handle the stigma of being a former drug user.
With the city’s Integrated Participatory Community Building Program (IPCBP), 36 PSUDs who participated in the said program finished the 36 modular sessions and passed the random drug test were recognized by the city last June 27 at the Baguio City multi-purpose hall.
It has been reported by the city social welfare and development office that 286 of the 407 listed PSUDs have already completed their rehabilitation programs.
Moreover, the CSWDO continues to make follow-ups on the remaining 121 PSUDs who were not able to finish their intervention and transformation program.
CSWD officer Betty Fangasan stressed that the recovery from addiction is not done overnight and it will take years to totally recover and recuperate from addiction. Thus, the city still continues to look for other sources of livelihood to be utilized by former drug users so as to prevent them from going back to illegal drugs again.
In his inspirational message, mayor Mauricio Domogan acknowledged the struggles of the PSUDs to be a better individual and for showing their genuine commitment to transform into a better individual. Thus, the local chief executive challenged the PSUDs graduates to totally reform and encouraged them to be a living example to other drug users.
May your (PSDUs) realization on the negative and bad effects of illegal drugs to your health, loved ones and families be a reminder for you not to go back to the illegal drug activities, stressed Domogan.
As of June, the CSWDO has recorded 119 new PSUDs surrenderees to the police and will be participating in the next batch of the IPCBP.
Meanwhile, despite inadequate funds for the campaign on war against drugs, the city government here through the CSWDO in partnership with other private and religious sectors continues to serve and assist said PSUDs who are willing to help themselves. /Jho Arranz
