Rehab centers: Safe havens for addicts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Psychiatrist Al Bachri Husin established Wisma
\nAdiksi (Addiction House) in late 1998 using his own money because
\nhe witnessed an overwhelming upsurge in the number of drug
\nabusers that existing health facilities simply could not cope
\nwith.<\/p>\n
A shortage of facilities for post-detox patients and
\nrehabilitation centers, as well as an environment which was far
\nfrom supportive, were other reasons why Al Bachri, or Al to his
\nfriends, set up his own institute. A previous failure in running
\na similar clinic convinced the doctor that the facility should be
\nrun professionally and profitably without becoming a commercial
\nenterprise and sacrificing its original altruistic goals.<\/p>\n
Residents who come from various backgrounds pay Rp 3 million
\nper month -- a much lower fee compared to many other
\nrehabilitation centers. "If there were no operational costs, I
\nwould have made the facility free of charge," he said.<\/p>\n
The Addiction House is located at Jl. Jati Indah I No. 23,
\nPangkalan Jati, Pondok Labu in South Jakarta. It brings together
\ndrug abusers within a community under a special program to
\nencourage them to heal one another. Applying the therapeutic
\ncommunity (TC) approach, rehabilitation efforts are the focus of
\nthe Wisma's program.<\/p>\n
The treatment methodology is also integrated with the well-
\nknown "Twelve Steps" for drug addicts, as well as religious
\ncounseling for residents. A number of professionals are involved:
\npsychiatrists, educators, social workers and religious teachers.
\nEven former addicts are hired to take care of the Wisma's daily
\noperations.<\/p>\n
The program consists of the primary phase for three to four
\nmonths, the senior phase for two to three months, reentry phase I
\nfor three to four months and reentry phase II for two to three
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
The emphasis in the first phase is on recuperating through
\nindividual and group therapy aimed at instilling discipline,
\nawareness of the problem and responsibility and honesty toward
\noneself. The phases that follow are geared toward helping
\nresidents make the transition and reintegration into "normal
\nlife" in their family and the community.<\/p>\n
In the later stages, residents are assisted in planning for an
\nindependent future. At this stage, family members are involved so
\nthey will be more supportive of the residents.<\/p>\n
Nearly 200 people have been treated in the Wisma, with 65
\npercent of them having been declared "cured." "I don't guarantee
\nthat everyone will be cured, but at least this method works
\nbetter than the previous one that I used," Al said.<\/p>\n
Chilam, a former addict now working as a staff member at the
\nWisma, agreed. "I feel that my life changed for the better after
\nI entered the Wisma," he said.<\/p>\n
In Bogor, West Java, there is the Wijaya Kusuma Sports Campus,
\na rehabilitation center run on the principle of the therapeutic
\ncommunity. It is the only rehabilitation center with an on-site
\n24-hour doctor.<\/p>\n
There are now 23 residents participating in the primary
\nprogram and 12 residents in the reentry program in its facility
\non Jl. Hang Lekir, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Wijaya Kusuma Sports Campus has eight staff members for the
\nprimary and four for the reentry program to prepare residents to
\nreintegrate with society when they leave. More than 15 addicts
\nhave successful finished the program.<\/p>\n
The center was established in October 1999 by Dr. Mohammad
\nSarengat, the fastest runner at the 1962 Asian Games who won gold
\nand bronze medals). His motive for opening the center was
\npersonal because his own son, Andung Sarengat, was then a drug
\naddict.<\/p>\n
Andung was at the time treated at a rehabilitation center in
\nKuala Lumpur. He was later trained in the six-week program for
\nsubstance abuse counselor training at Kusuma Wicitra. He is now
\nthe program manager of the Reentry House at Wijaya Kusuma.<\/p>\n
"The basic program of Wijaya Kusuma is therapeutic community,
\nwith sports being supplementary," said Andung.<\/p>\n
"This is not a place where we force people to do sports. At
\nWijaya Kusuma we can play basketball, soccer and all kinds of
\nsports and have fun," he added.<\/p>\n
What exactly is the TC approach that is being used by a number
\nof rehab centers such as Titian Respati, Terracota and Yayasan
\nSinar Indonesia (Yasin). The rehabilitation program is a four to
\nsix- month resident treatment designed to address the behavioral
\nand emotional issues of drug dependency.<\/p>\n
Residents move through four progressive phases of treatment
\nwith the option of continuing treatment for a period of one year.<\/p>\n
Therapeutic community treatment also offers group support to
\nfamily members who wish to be involved. Both group and individual
\ntherapy is provided and is geared toward addressing the unique
\ntreatment plan of each resident.<\/p>\n
Groups are formed to discuss issues in life, concerns and
\ncoping strategies. Treatment is further complemented by a variety
\nof leisure and learning activities including management, sports,
\nhorticulture and art therapy.<\/p>\n
Except in emergencies, residents do not engage in any off-site
\ncommunication during the first three months of care. After this
\ninitial orientation period, communication resumes where desired
\nand visits by family members to the center may be arranged.<\/p>\n
Therapeutic community treatment offers long-term residential
\ncare which is based on the belief that addiction is an acquired
\nlifestyle.<\/p>\n
Users suffering from chronic or severe addictions are offered
\nan alternative lifestyle where values and attitudes are explored
\nand challenged in an atmosphere of self-help and mutual support.
\nTreatment addresses the individual in a holistic fashion and is
\npremised on the belief that change is most effective when it is
\n"experienced and shared".<\/p>\n
"However, therapeutic community treatment does not involve
\nphysical contact," said Andung Sarengat.<\/p>\n
Also in Bogor, there is Wisma Afiat, a facility opened two
\nyears ago by the Muhammadiyah Islamic organization. It is still a
\npilot project of approaching drug addiction through the Islamic
\nconcept of daily life and behavior.<\/p>\n
Psychiatrist Fuadi Yatim, who is the director of the facility,
\nsaid incoming residents were first given physical examinations.
\n"The magnitude of damage caused by drug use simply cannot be
\nemphasized enough. Drugs destroy these children's livers, hearts,
\nlungs, often fatally," he said.<\/p>\n
After the physicals, newcomers are taken off drugs, known as
\ndetoxification, for up to a week. This is where it often hurts
\nthe most, Fuadi's deputy Izfan said. "They are in so much pain as
\nthey go through sakau (withdrawal)," he said.<\/p>\n
To ease the pain, the newcomers are given pain killers,
\nsleeping pills and other medication. At the end of this period,
\nthe youths are again given physical and laboratory examinations.<\/p>\n
"Then we go on to the spirituality approach," Fuadi said.
\n"These youths have been living so far away from what Islam
\nteaches us, which is why we try to bring them back."<\/p>\n
The youths are encouraged to perform the shalat (prayers),
\nread the Koran and dzikir. They are awakened at night to say the
\ntahajud prayers and to take a predawn meal before fasting every
\nMonday and Thursday.<\/p>\n
"That is actually our criteria for recovery," Izfan said. "If
\nthe youths can stop smoking altogether, pray and fast, then insya
\nAllah (by the grace of Allah), they will be fine."<\/p>\n
Both Fuadi and Izfan spoke strongly against smoking. "That is
\nthe gateway to this vice (drug addiction or alcoholism)," Izfan
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"Something that damages your health is haram (religiously
\nunlawful or forbidden), and smoking is that," Fuadi said.<\/p>\n
Fuadi and Izfan agreed on the importance of the therapeutic
\ncommunity concept but feel that the approach has yet to target
\nthe real root of the problem -- which is a lifestyle that is far
\nfrom pious. "TC, for instance, builds up the residents'
\nconfidence to the point of defying them," Fuadi said.<\/p>\n
Fuadi and Izfan, however, believe the importance of a total
\nchange encompassing not only the residents but also the other
\nfamily members, is the key to recovery. "How can we ask the
\nyouths to behave Islamically, to fast and to read the Koran when
\ntheir parents do not do the same thing?" Fuadi said.<\/p>\n
So far, Wisma Afiat has treated more than 100 youths and has a
\nsuccess rate of 70 percent. "Some 30 percent of them came back
\nbecause they relapsed," Izfan said.<\/p>\n
Fuadi and Izfan believe helping drug addicts is another form
\nof da'wa (spreading the teachings of Islam). "They're our
\nbrothers and sisters, and they need help," Fuadi said. (Deka
\nKurniawan\/Nuraini Razak\/Santi W.E. Soekanto)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rehab-centers-safe-havens-for-addicts-1447893297",
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