Residential care offers hope for drug addicts<\/p>\n
By Sirikit Syah<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The corner house located in a middle class
\nhousing complex of Prapen Indah looks just like the any other
\nhouse in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
In fact, the quiet Graha Panca Atma is a newly established
\nrehabilitation center for drug addicts. The clinic, which can
\naccommodate about 20 people, is built on a 600 square meter plot
\nof land and has nine bedrooms for women on the first floor and
\nanother 11 bedrooms for men upstairs.<\/p>\n
First class bedrooms come with air conditioning, TV and a
\nrefrigerator. In the second class rooms, air conditioners are the
\nonly amenity and only fans are made available in the third-class
\nrooms.<\/p>\n
\"The idea to start the center came five years ago. It became
\nmore urgent as more people have fallen victim to drugs over the
\npast few years,\" said Dr. Willy Fransiscus Maramis, one of the
\nfounders of Panca Atma Foundation which manages Graha Panca Atma.<\/p>\n
There are another four doctors running the foundation, Soedomo
\nMergonoto, Fattyawan Kintono, Ignatius Darmawan Budianto and Iman
\nSantoso Sardjono -- all are experienced in handling drug
\naddiction.<\/p>\n
They work at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, the Navy Hospital,
\nMenur Surabaya Mental Hospital and Lawang Mental Hospital.
\nBetween them, they have expertise in general practice, psychiatry
\nand psychology.<\/p>\n
The increasing number of drug patients at their private
\nclinics and workplaces motivated them to pay more attention to
\nthe problem. They used to have one drug patient a month, now
\nMaramis alone handles four to five patients a week.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Maramis, those addicted to shabu-shabu
\n(crystal methampethamine) make up the majority of patients.<\/p>\n
\"They account for more than 50 percent of the patients,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The rest are addicts of putauw (low-grade heroin) and ecstasy.
\nHandling patients is nothing new for the doctors, but taking
\nresidential care of them like at Graha Panca Atma is different.<\/p>\n
\"Most of them come to Graha Panca Atma because their parents
\nor relatives ask them to do so. Some stay long term, others pay a
\nshort visit and leave never to be seen again,\" Maramis said.<\/p>\n
Destructive<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Maramis, shabu-shabu is the most destructive
\ndrug because it destroys the nervous system and the brain. The
\nvictims may become paranoid, over sensitive, aggressive,
\nsuspicious, jealous, and easily provoked. Addicted married
\ncouples may fight; a young man may destroy home or office
\nfurniture. Ecstasy addicts, by comparison, are usually not
\naggressive; and putauw addicts are even calmer.<\/p>\n
\"Their problem is the addiction itself, which is very
\ndifficult to cure. Often, the addict seems to have kicked the
\nhabit but the addiction may come back at any moment. But they are
\nharmless.\" said Maramis.<\/p>\n
At Graha Panca Atma, the patients are given a two step
\ntreatment. The first step involves reducing the level of drug
\nconsumption, or detoxification.<\/p>\n
During this period, their drug consumption is reduced
\ngradually and eventually stopped altogether. After 10 to 14 days
\nof medication, the rehabilitation program starts.<\/p>\n
\"This is more difficult and it takes longer,\" said Maramis.<\/p>\n
For this three month rehabilitation period the patients stay
\nat the center.<\/p>\n
\"If at this stage they are returned to the community, they may
\nresume the habit because they will find it difficult to resist
\nthe drug dealers' offers.\"<\/p>\n
Graha Panca Atma offers four categories of rehabilitation:
\nphysical, mental, social, and spiritual.<\/p>\n
In physical rehabilitation, the patients are allowed time for
\nexercises. Mental rehabilitation is involves the use of
\npsychotherapy. While in social rehabilitation, the patients are
\nengaged in social activities. For spiritual rehabilitation, the
\ncenter guides the patients in the practice of their religious
\nbeliefs.<\/p>\n
Whatever treatments the patient may receive at the center, the
\ncare shown by his or her family and the attitude of society in
\ngeneral are the keys to success. According to Maramis, many
\npeople still see drugs addicts as criminals. \"They are not, they
\nare victims.\"<\/p>\n
Maramis is pessimistic that the problem of drug abuse will
\nimprove in the near future.<\/p>\n
\"Our guess is that the problem will worsen. Look, drug dealers
\nare still free and the authorities are involved in the business,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Graha Panca Atma is the first private clinic for drug addicts
\nin Surabaya. The city used to have only one center, which was run
\nby the local government.<\/p>\n
Security is tight here. Security guards and nurses work 24
\nhours a day. Visitors are thoroughly checked, and are not allowed
\nto bring mobile phones in with them, to prevent unnecessary
\ncommunications with outsiders.<\/p>\n
Among the patients are a man from Jember, who is always
\naccompanied by his wife, and a young student accompanied by his
\nmother.<\/p>\n
There were only five patients there two weeks ago, most of
\nthem are in their 30s and married. Maramis and his colleagues
\ntreat more patients at their private clinics.<\/p>\n
Maramis refused to disclose the exact cost of the center. He
\nonly said that the minimum cost is Rp 50,000 a day for those
\nstaying in the third class rooms.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/residential-care-offers-hope-for-drug-addicts-1447893297",
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