Drug rehab services to be made available at local level under newly signed circular

The services in government’s drug rehabilitation program will be available at the local level as concerned agencies on Thursday signed a memorandum circular creating a community-based approach of the project.

Officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and Dangerous Drugs Board signed the joint memorandum circular.

Due to the influx of drug surrenderers, the government activated the community-based rehabilitation program to provide more accessible services to them.

The services under the localized rehabilitation program include treatment for persons who used drugs (PWUDs), particularly maintenance pharmacotherapy with the assistance of both health and non-health specialists.

Support services like technical skills development, livelihood training, educational programs, civic and environmental awareness activities, job placement, and legal assistance will also be offered at the local government units.

The community-based rehab program is exclusive to PWUDs with ‘moderate risk’ of drug dependence or those who do not need to undergo clinical rehabilitation to be treated.

To determine the risk level of drug dependence, PWUDs have to undergo screening.  —KBK, GMA News