Drug Rehabilitation (L.1)

 Drug Rehabilitation (L.1)

When new patients arrive at our drug rehabilitation centers, they are paired with a "Guide"—a senior trainee who has been in the program for at least three months.

The Guide is responsible for introducing the patient to the instructors, helping them integrate with other trainees, and teaching them the daily rules and expectations for the first month.

The first task for a new trainee is to write openly about themselves. They must write a total of seven pages: five pages of autobiography (autograph), one page detailing their strengths, and one page detailing their weaknesses. They can ask their Guide for guidance on how to write these.

The first week is typically very busy with these tasks. This routine prevents patients from overthinking their past; instead, they are kept occupied with group exercises, training sessions, art activities, smoking breaks, meals, and cleaning duties, leaving them little time to dwell on negative thoughts.

Once the instructors have reviewed the patient's autobiography and gathered information from the Guide, the patient meets with their assigned consultant for an initial assessment, which lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. The primary goal is to determine if the patient has underlying mental health issues. We must identify whether they used drugs as a coping mechanism for stress, trauma, or depression, or if the drug use itself caused those conditions.

Of even greater concern are symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), which I often refer to as "hallucinating" (seeing or hearing things that aren't there). If a patient exhibits these, the consultant must coordinate with a psychiatrist for integrated care.

Next is physical health. Many patients have pre-existing conditions like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or cancer. Additionally, we must address health issues developed during drug use, such as dental problems, hearing impairment, or vision issues. Many users of methamphetamine (Yaba/Ice) suffer from significant dental issues.

By combining the patient’s written history, the Guide’s observations, and the consultant’s interview, we identify major emotional traumas—such as the loss or separation of a partner, infidelity, job loss, financial ruin, or family and parental conflicts. For these patients, we form a support group consisting of their Guide and about four other trusted trainees. These members are tasked with keeping a subtle, watchful eye on the patient. We also keep them busy with minor daily challenges and tasks to prevent them from ruminating on their major trauma. Throughout this, the Guide acts as a mentor, offering advice on how to process these difficulties and approach problem-solving in a healthy way.

In this stage, you will see four key pillars of our approach:

1. Peer Support System

2. Occupational Therapy & Distraction

3. Trauma-Informed Approach

4. Holistic Care