E-ISSN: 2476-9606

Abstract Proceedings International Scholars Conference

Volume 7 Issue 1, October 2019, pp. 901-908

https://doi.org/10.35974/isc.v7i1.1026

Impact of the Moral Recovery Program for Drug

Surrenderees in Cavite
Eunice M. Carpizo1 and Ainee Grace S. Sansano2
1
Adventist University of the Philippines
2
Sultan Kudarat State University
EMCarpizo@aup.edu.ph
ABSTRACT
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the moral-recovery program done
by different religious organizations in cooperation with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) of
the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Local Governments Units, and Non-Government
Agencies and various business sectors. A total of 131 drug surenderees from Cavite,
Philippines were purposively selected to participate in the study. One hundred fourteen (87%)
respondents are male and 17 (13%) are female. Survey questionnaires and interviews were used
to gather the data to find out how the program made an impact to the morality of the
surrenderees. Frequency and percentages were used for statistical analysis. Results showed that
after attending the 3-month moral recovery program, 111 (85%) of the drug surenderees
resolved to stop using drugs, 64 (49%) committed to attend church regularly, 98 (75%) have a
better relationship with God, and 23 (18%) have a healthier perspective in life and became
more responsible members of their own families. The respondents, who were influenced by
their friends to use drugs, after attending the 12-session moral recovery program that lasted for
three months, changed their lives dramatically from turning to drugs to turning to God in
solving their problems. This proved that the program helped the drug surenderees to improve
their lives and relationship with God and with other people. Since this program is mandated by
the government, it is recommended that further studies on the impact of the moral recovery
program in other areas in the Philippines be done.

Keywords: War on Drugs; Drug Surrenderees; Moral Recovery Program.

INTRODUCTION
The War on drugs is one of the Philippine government’s priority programs due to the
proliferation of illegal drugs. The widespread sale of these illegal drugs has become a public
health concern. As a result of the campaign against drugs, thousands surrendered which
prompted the government to conduct moral recovery community-based programs nationwide.
SIPAG (Simula ng Pag-asa) is a 12-week recovery program launched in cooperation with the
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and in partnership with local churches, various business
sectors, non-government organizations, the PNP and local government units across the nation.

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It was first conceptualized in October 2016, when DDB tapped Christ’s Commission
Fellowship to launch a faith-based recovery program to cater to the thousands of drug
dependents who surrendered as part of President Duterte’s war against drugs. SIPAG aims to
address the emotional, physiological, and relational, as well as spiritual issues battling within
the drug dependents and their family members SIPAG desires for the drug dependents to know
that there is more to life than substance abuse (Dangerous Drugs Board, 2016).
All drug surrrenderers of Silang, Cavite participated in this recovery program that had its
kicked off day on April 9, 2017. Out of 1800 drug surrenderers, around 800 enrolled for the
recovery program, of which, 371 participants successfully completed the 12 sessions which
ended on June 25, 2017. The closing ceremony on July 30, 2017 was a sense of accomplishment
to the government, specifically to the PNP Silang and AUP Community Extension Services,
that worked hand in hand for the victory of this program.
The main objective of this research is to determine the impact of the moral-recovery program
done by different religious organizations in cooperation with the Dangerous Drugs Board
(DDB) of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Local Governments Units, and Non-
government Agencies and various business sectors. More specifically, the study sought to
answer the following questions:
1. What kind of drugs did the respondents use before they attend the SIPAG program?
How they used the drugs and how frequent?
2. What are the changes that they experienced in life after attending the 12 sessions of
SIPAG program?
The impact study of the Community Extension Services (CES) program determines to
contribute to the following people:
The designed recovery program will help them in the emotional, relational, and spiritual aspects
of their well-being, as they participate in the 12-week sessions guided by modules provided by
the government.
In responding to the nationwide campaign of His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,
the PNP Silang, Cavite will gain an accomplishment report that they can use as reference in
the implementation of its programs, especially on drug related cases.
This program will help the CES implement its thrusts and will evaluate if the programs are
appropriate and beneficial to the community. The result of the program will help the CES to
attain its goal to become an outcome-oriented department, which works for the cause of the
community within its municipality.
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The Adventist University of the Philippines has been implementing programs that are
beneficial to the Silang community. The nine existing colleges are facilitated and coordinated
by the CES department. The result of this study will further enhance the services being offered
by the institution.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The number of drug users continues to increase yearly in spite of the drug reduction and rehabilitation
programs and policies made by the different countries in the world to reduce the incidence of drug use.
The use of drugs illegally is considered as a major problem and a threat to human beings in the whole
world. Drug addiction is still the top 20 risk factors for health in the world and among the top 10 risk
factors in low-income countries. The estimate of drug users in 2012 was 243 million people worldwide.
The number increases to 255 million in 2015 and 275 million in 2016. The estimated prevalence of drug
use in 2011-2014 was 5.2% of the world population. The percentage was increased to 5.3% in 2015 and
5.6% in 2016. Drug use is much higher among young people than older people. The most commonly
used drugs are cannabis (192 million users), oploids (34 million users), amphetamines (34 million
users), ecstasy (21 million users, opiates (19 million users), and cocaine (18 million users) (United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, 2017 & 2018).
Persons who initiate substance use and later develop substance use disorders typically transition through
a number of stages, including initiation of use, escalation of use, maintenance, and, eventually, addiction
(Kandel, 2002). Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking
and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional
changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control, and those changes may last a long
time after a person has stopped taking drugs (Goldstein & Volkow, 2011). Drug dependence has two
components: physical dependency and psychological dependency. Physical dependency occurs when a
drug has been used habitually and the body has become accustomed to its effects. Psychological
dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the mind has become emotional reliant to
its effects, either to elicit pleasure or relieve pain, and does not feel capable of functioning without it
(Journey Pure, 2019).
Anyone can become a drug abuser. Drug abuse information indicates that all ethnicities, ages, social
groups, and genders can have drug abuse problems. Drug abuse is not a character flaw but a medical
condition that has developed over time. While no one knows why one person becomes a drug abuser
while another doesn't, drug abuse does tend to run in families. The National Institute on Drug Abuse
(2018) indicates the following risk factors for developing drug abuse problems:
1. Unstable home environment, often due to drug abuse or mental illness of the parent
2. Poor relationship with parents

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3. Inadequate supervision over adolescent's activities

4. Use of drugs by friends / peers
5. Permissive attitude towards their own drug use and the drug use of the adolescent
6. Behavioral problems combined with poor parenting
7. Poor achievement in school
8. Apparent ambivalence or approval of drug use in the school, peer group or community
9. Availability of drugs in the community, peer group or home

In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that there were 4 million drug users in the Philippines. This
year, 2019, the President is claiming that the number was increased to 7-8 million drug users (Philstar,
2019; Mazo, 2017). Majority of the drug dependents are poly-drug users and the common drug that
they used is shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, 2012).
The Philippine National Police (PNP) used the Oplan Tokhang Operations to encourage drug suspects
to voluntarily surrender and stop their illegal activities. As a result, an estimated of 1.3 to 1.4 million
drug users had voluntarily surrendered for rehabilitation (Inquirer, 2019). The PNP has organized
community-based recovery program called Life After Tokhang (LIFT). This program was created
based on the findings of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs that about 90% of the drug
dependents do not need to undergo a full rehabilitation program, but need to undergo community-based
recovery program instead (GMA News Online, 2017).
On September 19, 2016, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) passed Board Regulation No. 4, series of
2016, entitled “OPLAN SAGIP” mandating the Local Government Units (LGUs) through their Anti-
Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs) to facilitate the establishment of community-based treatment and
rehabilitation services and interventions to surrenderers found to be of low-risk or having mild
substance use disorder. Some LGUs have started to established and operationalize their community-
based treatment and rehabilitation programs based on the provisions provided the (DDB). Other
organizations have also offered their support and services for the rehabilitation of drug users and
dependents in the communities and one of them is the Simula ng Pag-asa (SIPAG). SIPAG is 12-
session moral recovery program that is divided into three parts: Family, Recovery, and Accountability.,
the programFamily focused topics are intended to help restore the family through forgiveness and
family relationship-strengthening messages to help them realize that drugs are just a by-product of a
dysfunctional family. The recovery session is intended to help the person realize the need for God, that
no one can change her/his own except Christ. The last part is focused on Accountability. This part is
designed to help the participants see the importance of having a support group outside of the family.
Each part is conducted in four sessions. So, the whole whole SIPAG program will last for 12 sessions
(Dangerous Drugs Board, 2016)

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In September 2016, the local chief executive gathered representatives from the different sectors and
volunteers to map out plans to tackle the influx of drug surrenderees in response to the Oplan “tok-
hang” of the PNP. The group drew-up a Transformational Rehabilitation Plan that was a Community-
Based Approach to Drug Prevention, Intervention and Moral Recovery Program. The program, a 3-
Phases modular approach, was implemented with the general objective to enable the participant to
understand the process of healing and recovery from their old lifestyles and embrace the new life for
the future. Based on the feedback from the surrenderees and their families, the program was effective
because it really addressed the inner core of their problems (Mazo, 2017). Also Shafiei (2014)
concluded that addiction treatment can be achieved through the cooperation and willingness of the
addicts to quit and participation of their families.

METHODS
The study used descriptive-survey design. Survey questionnaires were distributed among 131
drug surrenderees to gather data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
The target population of the study were the 371 participants who successfully completed the
12 session of moral-recovery program. Only 131 of them voluntarily participated in the survey.
Data for the kinds of drugs used, type of usage and frequency of use before joining the program
and the changes that they experienced after attending the program were collected using self-
constructed questionnaire. The questionnaire was written in tagalog or Pilipino.
Data were tabulated and were analyzed using percentage and frequency table. Impact of the
study was determined by comparing the data describing who they are before attending and who
they are now after attending the 12 session of moral-recovery program.

RESULTS
Table 1, summarized the different kinds of drugs used by the drug surrenderees before. Ninety-
six percent (96%) of them use shabu, 2% marijuana, and 2% alcohol.

Table 1. Kinds of Drugs Used by the Respondents Before

Kinds of Drugs Used No. of Respondents Percentage
Shabu 126 96%
Mairjuan 3 2%
Alcohol 2 2%
Total 131 100

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Types of Usage
As indicated in table 2, 79% of respondents used drugs by sniffing (pagsinghot), 11% by
drinking (pag-inom), 1% by injection (pagturok) and 9% in other forms.

Table 2. How the Respondent Used Drugs

Types of Usage No. of Respondents Percentage

Sniffing (pagsinghot) 104 79%
Drinking 14 11%
Injection 1 1%
Others 12 9%
Total 131 100

Frequency of Use
Most (72%) of the respondents used drugs once a week, 17% twice a week, and 11% 3-5 times
a week as shown in table 3.

Table 3. Frequency of Drug Use

Frequency No. of Respondents Percentage

Once a Week 94 72%
Twice a Week 22 17%
3 – 5 times a Week 15 11%
Total 131 100

Changes After Attending the Moral-Recovery Program

The summary of changes experienced by the respondents in their lives after attending the 12
sessions moral-recovery program are shown in table 4.
These respondents who were addicted to drugs now 85% of them resolved to stop using drugs.
They do not go to church before, now 51% of them are church goers. Before, they just kept to
themselves their problems. Now, 85% of them disclosed their problems to others. Most of
them before prefer to be alone, now 73% of them are trying to be sociable. Before, they do not
care about God and about their lives. Now, 75% of them wanted to have a better relationship
with God and 23% have a healthier perspective in life and would like to be more responsible
to their families.

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Table 4. Changes in the Lives of the Respondents After Attending the Moral-Recovery
Program

Changes After Attending the Program No. of Respondents Percentage

Resolved to Stop Using Drugs 111 85%
Attend to Church Regularly 67 51%
Prefer to Disclose Problems with Others 111 85%
Socialized with Others 96 73%
Wanted to Have a Better Relationship with God 98 75%
Have a Healthier Perspective in Life and Would 23 18%
to be More Responsible to their Families

DISCUSSION
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the moral-recovery program
conducted by the different religious groups in cooperation with Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB)
of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Local Governments Units, and Non-Government
Agencies and various business sectors. The program can be very useful in the helping the drug
surrenderees develop a heathier perspective in life. The program can now be used by the
government and non-government agencies, and religious sectors a standard program to other
drug surrenderees in other part of the country.
The overall results of the study showed that the respondents were using shabu, the most, once
a week by sniffing before attending the 12 session moral-recovery program. After attending
the moral-recovery program, there were significant changes in their lives. They learned the
disadvantages of using drugs and resolved to stop using them. They learned about God, attend
church regularly and wanted to have a better relationship with Him. They learned to socialized
and disclosed their problems with others.
Conclusion
The study concludes that the moral-recovery program had impacted the life of the respondents
from being a drug dependent to healthier perspective in life. It is suggested that this program
be replicated in other regions of the Philippines or other countries who have the same problem
for research.

REFERENCES
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