Life after Rehab – Sample of Aftercare Program in the Philippines

Examples of Aftercare Programs for Recovering Addicts

When a person exits rehab, he finds himself back in a world where he is no longer surrounded by a safe structure and generally supportive people. Instead, he may find himself back in social circles where acquaintances have no qualms about using prohibited substances. Or he may find himself invited to birthday parties and social gatherings where alcohol is the social lubricant of choice. The outside world is full of temptation and there are a scarily large number of opportunities to relapse. This environment is one where every additional form of support in the effort to stay clean will be very much appreciated.

Approach and Support System

Life after rehab in the Philippines at least offers the possibility of supportive family life and family members. It would be generally frowned upon if family members were found to be avoiding their responsibility to support one of their members. That said, there is no guarantee of this, and sometimes even relatives who mean well can be more of a hindrance than a help. Sometimes even Filipinos find life management after rehab to be a lonely and alienating process when he or she returns home. This is one reason there are aftercare programs in the Philippines, which are designed to help lighten the load on the individual.

There is a wide variety when it comes to these programs in the country. Some programs approach the issue of rehabilitation from a more religious angle. For example, there is an institution called the Set Free Center, which has a facility in Antipolo City, just outside of Metro Manila. The Center focuses on male individuals who have had substance abuse issues with illegal drugs and similar substances. It offers clients a long term program, 12 to 15 months long. This program is carried out with the objective of creating a Christian community around the individual, including study of the Bible and other similar activities.

For its aftercare program, the center allows clients to transfer to a separate building, where they are allowed to live relatively independently. This independence means that the clients may resume their academic activities if they were previously students, or they may resume working if they possess gainful employment. The idea here is that the clients will go back to a life which is more or less similar to what they would experience on the outside, except that they come home to a place which offers a reassuringly supportive environment.

Other organizations offer a somewhat more secular experience. For example, the Mararahay Ka Rehab and Treatment Facility (MKRTF), which is located in Baguio City, bases its program more around the 12 step principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, though it also draws on the field of psychology. It works with persons to help them leave behind problems with addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling. With regard to its aftercare program, MKRTF explicitly makes it a goal, not just to assist people with their substance abuse problems, but also to provide them with the education and training necessary so that they can themselves provide counseling to other people, who are suffering what they went through. There is a pay it forward concept behind this effort, aimed at multiplying the beneficial effects of their activities beyond the principal attendees.

These are just some of the many aftercare programs in the Philippines. There are others. While they may have their differences when it comes to approach, they share the common thread of helping people continue to move beyond their addictions, even after the formal rehab process has ended. Life after rehab in the Philippines need not be a lonely journey. While a supportive family life and structure will work wonders, there are also organizations such as the ones mentioned above, which aim to help with life management after rehab.