DAVAO CITY—Around 700 reformed drug users gathered Sunday to enroll in a rehabilitation program of the city government headed by the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
CADAC action officer Michael Denton Aportadera said the Health and Wellness Caravan for the drug “reformists” in the city aims to help them “survive their daily lives away from illegal drugs toward a better future.”
Aportadera said the CADAC took a different approach to drug users who surrendered themselves to the authorities and sought help.
“CADAC partnered with different agencies in the government and in the private sector and that includes the religious sect. Now they have all the reasons to go back to their community as a better individual,” he said.
The Philippine Dental Association, the academe and LGBT community were among the private groups who joined the campaign of the city government.
Each drug ex-user will undergo a check up to determine the rehabilitation they will need.
According to “Rick,” 18, an ex-user, the program is a big help for a former addict like him. He said he would like to finish his studies and become an engineer.
“I’ve been using marijuana, shabu and even rugby for eight years, and I am so happy right now that I’ve been sober for days,” Rick said.
He said his sobriety may have been a short period of time compared to others, but it is already the longest time he did not use any illegal drug.
Aportadera said Davao also partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment to help the reformed drug users find jobs.
“We will ensure that they will have a good future ahead of them,” he said.
CADAC will continue to conduct the activity until all 11,000 drug surrenderers in the city will enroll in the program, Aportadera said.