Substance use disorder or drug addiction not only poisons the mind of an individual — it also burns bridges with family and loved ones.

Doctor Alvin Vergara of Tahanan – Quezon City Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center said it is rare for an individual suffering from substance use disorder to voluntarily seek help, and that most cases are brought to rehabilitation by family members.

“Based on my experience it is rare that someone with substance use disorder voluntarily undergo rehabilitation, because they have a disorder so their beliefs are altered,” Doc Vergara said.

“They will say that ‘yes, I use (illegal drugs) but I don’t have a problem.’ However, their family can see it — they don’t go to work, there’s always a quarrel with the family, running amok and stealing money from the house,” he added.

According to Doc Vergara, who has been in the field for more than 20 years, substance use disorder affects the family even more than the individual.

“Most of the time, the family is reaching out to us. Why? Because it is a problem of the family not just a health problem of an individual,” he explained.

He also cited that under the law, families up to the fourth degree are allowed to recommend an individual suffering from substance use disorder to undergo rehabilitation. If the person refuses voluntary submission to the court, the family may sign it on their behalf.

However, Vergara clarified that not all drug users automatically qualify as patients with substance use disorder, and admission to the center depends on evaluation. Patients may be admitted as:
• Inpatient residents (6 months to 1 year),
• Outpatients under community-based rehabilitation programs conducted by LGUs (12 sessions), or
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) patients with 24 sessions administered by the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Only physically fit clients can qualify for full inpatient residency, he added. Those who are too elderly, gravely ill, or suffering from severe psychiatric conditions are referred to more appropriate facilities for safety.

Vergara revealed that some families seek long-term rehabilitation due to fear for their safety.

“There’s a threat in their life, if they don’t give money… they reason that they are being pestered and threatened if they don’t give some money,” Vergara said. “In effect, they are used to that system until they are so fed up and they can’t take it anymore.”

One of the residents, who requested anonymity and was identified only as “Jun,” shared that he relapsed into methamphetamine (shabu) use and destroyed his relationship with his wife and daughter.

“My time was spent more on drugs instead of with my family. More on my friends, more on my vices, more on my wants and needs — but basically those times should have been meant for my family,” Jun said.

Although he speaks clearly and articulately — defying stereotypes — his addiction worsened over time. What convinced him to enter rehabilitation was when his daughter was advised by school psychologists to move out of the house so she could focus on her studies.

“I should be the one leaving the house, so I agreed to enter rehabilitation,” Jun shared.

He said his family’s visits during treatment gave him hope. “They are accepting me again… they are smiling now unlike before,” he said.

Doc Vergara urged families and communities to break the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and seek help early.

“Don’t hesitate to reach us out… in order to help them and prevent it from worsening, or if it’s already severe, we can give the proper treatment for them,” he said.