Cel Gonzales (left), quality control director of One Algon Place and Gerardo Rudin Gonzales III, executive diretor of One Algon Place (Photo by Ma. Teresa Montemayor)
MANILA -- Allied health experts on Saturday urged sufferers of substance abuse and mental health problems to get professional help.
“Many among those who do substance abuse, drug addiction, are scared to seek help because they thought they will have a (criminal) record when they enter a drug rehabilitation facility. You won’t have any record, only a petition for confinement,” Cel Gonzales, quality control director of One Algon Place, said in an interview at the Philippine News Agency's "Pros and Cons" forum.
One Algon Place is a rehabilitation center for those with alcohol and drug addiction.
Gonzales explained a petition for confinement allows people suffering from substance abuse “to be treated and not be charged with any criminal case”.
“The good thing is in Republic Act 9165 Section 60, under the confidentiality clause, their treatment record for drug abuse or mental health issue can’t be used against them in case they apply for work, or if they want to have an annulment,” she said, adding that it may only be re-opened or consulted in case of another drug abuse after treatment.
Meanwhile, Gerardo Rudin Gonzales III, executive director of One Algon Place, said many users of illegal drugs “tend to self-medicate or self-treat to achieve a certain ‘balance’”.
“Sometimes, a person takes shabu, he's quite high and active. He'll take a downer to cover up the fact that he's taking shabu, so he takes a downer like marijuana. So, the long effect of the substance addiction worsens,” he said.
Gonzales noted it takes years for people with drug addiction or substance abuse problem to accept that they need professional help because the public sees it as a sign of weakness.
“May isa nga kaming student na apat na taon nang pabalik-balik bago niya natanggap na may problema siya talaga. Minsan mayroon na silang suliranin pangkaisipan at para kumalma sila (We have one student who has been in and out of our facility for four years before he accepted that he really has problem. Sometimes, people with mental health issues, to calm themselves down) they take substances while others because of peer pressure, their values are weak,” he said.
To ensure proper treatment of drug addiction, Gonzales said a person must consult a psychiatrist first.
“Then, assessment in a rehabilitation center, because there's what we call low, medium and high risk, before we decide on the number of months of rehabilitation. You can’t say you need six months of rehabilitation right away,” he added.
Dr. Bernard Argamosa, a psychiatrist at the Department of Health-National Center for Mental Health, said the government collaborates with the private sector to better help Filipinos suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse.
“It's impossible not to have that collaboration because the private sector has expertise which the government doesn't have. The problem is cultural and national in scope and it will be a very long process but we need to start somewhere through collaboration,” Argamosa added.
In connection with this, Gonzales explained that allied health providers observe a “referral system”.
“Different facilities have different modalities and programs, kapag ang pangangailangan ng isang pasiyente ay hindi akma sa aming programa, ibabato rin namin ito sa ibang (if our facility can’t cater to the needs of one patient, we’ll refer the patient to another) facility, he said. (PNA)
