Influence of Treatment Programs and Social Adjustment among Newly Admitted

Drug Dependent Clients in Quezon City Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Tahanan
Kayereen Rachelle A. Abiad, Keileen R. Canare, Aljon Daryl Y.
Flores, Amikka Joyce B. Llorin and Ares Mari R. Padrejuan
Far Eastern University
Abstract:
Keywords: treatment program, social adjustment, drug dependents, rehabilitation

INTRODUCTION

gastrointestinal

Over the years, reports of drug

diseases,

cancer

(Aliasgari, et al. 2004; Ghadirian, et al

abuse inside and outside the country

1985;

has become higher and higher. To date,

osteoporosis (Amini, et al 2011) and

drugs are being available in many

death (Jafari, et al 2012; Amini, et al

places

2011)

and

regardless

of

several
what

individuals,
age,

gender,

Damghani,

are

complications

et

some
of

of

al

the

2003),

physical

substance

abuse.

socioeconomic status and even their

Psychologically, it can also lead to

profession, are getting involved with this

increased stress, anxiety, depression,

kind of activity. Perhaps, these people

psychosis,

are enticed by the pleasure or escape

decreased self-efficacy (Epstein, et al

that drugs might offer.

2011; Darke, et al 2005). In the social

indecisiveness

and

Substance abuse, having been a

aspect, substance abuse led to crimes

major economic and health problem

that threatened the safety and security

across the globe, also leads to multiple

of everybody. In response to this, the

effects on the physical, psychological

Philippine Government led by the new

and social well-being of the person and

President Duterte, together with the

his community (Chen, 2009). Infectious

Philippine

diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis C, liver,

prioritized the implementation of the

heart

Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign Project.

(Hamid,

et

al

2013)

and

National

Police,

has

According

to

Command

Drug treatment is defined as

Memorandum Circular No. 16 (2016),

intended to help addicted individuals

the main objective of this campaign is to

stop compulsive drug seeking and use.

produce

drug-free

execute

operations

personalities

the

and

barangays

and

Treatment can occur in a variety of

against

drug

settings, take many different forms, and

This

last

syndicates.

for

different

lengths

of

time.

movement led to plenty of surrendered

Because drug addiction is typically a

people, issues of extra-judicial crime

chronic

and

occasional relapses, a short-term, one-

rise

of

the

need

for

more

rehabilitation centers.
Drug

addiction

disorder

characterized

by

time treatment is usually not sufficient.

is

chronic

For many, treatment is a long-term

disease characterized by compulsive, or

process

uncontrollable, drug seeking and use

interventions and regular monitoring

despite

(NIDA, 2016). On the other hand, social

harmful

consequences

and

that

adjustment

lasting. These changes in the brain can

balance in social relationships usually

lead to the harmful behaviors seen in

aided by the appropriate of social skills

people who use drugs. Drug addiction is

as defined in Psychology Wiki, 2016.

Social

the

multiple

changes in the brain, which can be long

also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the

is

involves

achievement

adjustment can

of

be

return to drug use after an attempt to

defined as a psychological process. It

stop (NIDA, 2016).

frequently involves coping with new

By learning the facts about drugs,

standards and values. In the technical

many will become aware of the risks this

language of psychology, getting along

pleasure or escape might give the drug

with the members of the society as best

users and so will pave a way for helping

as

them

(Sharma,

recover

from

the

addiction.

one

can

is

2016).

called adjustment
As

for

domains,

Although, many of these users reported

relationships with extended family and

quitting because they wanted to change

role within the family unit, including

and have a better life, the road of

perceptions about economic functioning,

recovery was likewise a challenging and

also showed a marked atypical social

stressful path for most.

adjustment. Social and leisure activities,

and work either as a paid worker, unpaid

homemaker,

or

student

showed

respectively a moderate and slight

atypical adjustment (Delvecchio, 2015).
This study and its results can
contribute to the field of Psychology,
especially in Clinical Psychology. It can
help

the

professionals

and

Specifically,

it

answered

the

following questions:
1. What were the treatment programs
provided for the newly admitted drug
dependents.
2. How did drug dependents adjust socially
in the rehabilitation center?
3. How did these treatment programs and
social adjustment affect the clients
recovery?

administrators of rehabilitation centers in

planning for the intervention programs

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

and in addressing the concerns of each

client.

The results of the study may be

Because of the outrageous news

beneficial to the following individuals:

regarding drug activities and its victims

in the present government whereas
many

were

killed

and

many

surrendered, the researchers aimed to

determine the influence of treatment
programs and social adjustment among
the newly admitted drug dependents.

Drug Dependent Clients. The

study aimed to provide drug dependent
clients an understanding about the
various treatment programs that the
rehabilitation centers offer and that the
study provide awareness about the
efforts made by the government to
address

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

drug-related

issues

in

the

country.

The study investigated on the

Psychologists.This study hoped

influence of treatment programs and

to provide the psychologists a better

social adjustment among the newly

understanding and knowledge about the

admitted drug dependents.

possible influence of the treatment

programs employed

in rehabilitation

centers and social adjustment of the

newly admitted drug dependent clients.

reference in order to formulate and

This study would also provide reference

implement

for their assessment on the tendencies

addressing drug-related cases in the

of clients with drug-related cases and

country.

help team up with the administrators of

rehabilitation centers to come up and
implement more effective intervention
methods.

effective

measures

in

Future Researchers.The study

can be used by the future researchers
as their reference in conducting and
developing new researches especially

Rehabilitation Facilitators.This

those who will pursue a study related

study aimed to determine problems

or focused on intervention methods

encountered in rehabilitation facilities

and social psychology. It can also be

and suggest possible solutions for the

beneficial to those who would attempt

improvement

of

to replicate or redefine the paradigms

mechanisms

and

the

clients coping

inspire

them

to

established in this study.

actively participate in the rehabilitation

program.

CHAPTER 2

Family,

Relatives

and

Friends.The study hoped to provide the

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

families, relatives and friends of clients

with drug-related cases awareness and

Due

to

the

dearth

of

the

better understanding about the lives of

literature

the clients and how they adjust to the

setting, the researchers

environs of rehabilitation centers.

utilized mostly foreign sources and

Government and Society.This

study hoped to raise awareness among
the readers about the current situations
of the drug dependents and how they
deal with day-to-day situations inside
rehabilitation centers. The study also
hoped

to

provide

the

authorities

available

in

the

local

studies in explaining the focal points

of the study.
According to the study of Vivo
(2009), there are different kinds of
treatment that the substance abuse
patients needs, but despite of all the

researchers and studies conducted,

knowledge that treatment can be

there are only few or 10 percent of

effective for this group, services for

the patients receive treatments.

them are less available than for

adults. As a result we lose early

According to the Journal of

intervention,

which

can

prevent

Substance Abuse Treatment, there

worsen of the effects of substance to

were two primary reasons for fewer

their body.

addiction

treatment

programs

for

The second reason was that

adolescents. The first one is that

the abuse patients do not receive

researcher is lacking of adolescent

adequate/quality

treatment program itself. According

researchers

to Hannah Knudsen, we have only

such as family involvement and the

one-tenth who received treatment out

number of comprehensive services

of 1.4 million teens who are treatment

offered and it resulted to only a small

for substance abuse. And it was the

number of teen drug rehab programs

result of the lack of availability of the

scored high in each domain. Seventy

treatment programs for adolescents.

(70) percent of adolescent substance

There are also treatment program

abuse programs only treat addicted

that are provided by the government

teens

but it was not enough, especially that

according to the study, while most

the

treatment

substance abusing teens need more

lacks

intensive

government

programs/facilities

often

of

on

treatment.

evaluated

an

nine

outpatient

residential

or

The
areas

basis,

inpatient

fundings to support all those who are

treatment services, which tend to

in

rank higher in quality.

need. There

are

also private

treatment programs/facilities that are

Research

shows

that

available and has a better treatment

majority of teens requiring substance

program to offer to the substance

abuse treatment also need treatment

abuse patients but then it was not

for

enough. It was also said that despite

issues, such as depression, anxiety,

the public health significance of

trauma, or emotional or behavioral

adolescent substance abuse and the

disorders. When these conditions are

co-occurring

mental

health

treated separately, the risk of relapse

program

is high. Substance abuse treatment

seems to work to provide therapy

centers that simultaneously detect

for the families.

and address dual diagnosis issues

The

have

achieved

outcomes,

vastly

with

study

the

was

agency

used

in

Malaysian setting, and this study

patients

aimed to apply it in the Philippine

more

setting.

permanently.

Rehabilitation

centers

numerous

by

improved

abstaining from drug or alcohol use

implement

utilized

considerable

amount

of

treatment

studies has explored the association

programs to aid clients from relapse.

between several aspects of religiosity

In the study of Baharudinet. al.

and the use of alcohol, tobacco,

(2014), there is a need of intervention

marijuana, and other drugs (Amey,

programs, and family intervention

Albrecht, and Miller 1996; Bensen

program is one to look at the

1992; Gartner, Larson, and Allen

experience that the family undergo in

1991; Gorsuch 1995; Krause 1991;

drug

the

Wallace and Forman 1998). Many

Malaysian context as well as to

religious groups or formal churches

devise

have

addiction

treatment

possible

recommendations
who

are

in

alternate

for

counselors

interested

in

the

been sponsoring substance

abuse treatment programs and some

of them make ways to integrate a

augmentation of family techniques in

spiritual

the treatment of drug addiction.

treatment programs.

Results

show

that

dimension

into

their

family

members have a close relationship

Religiosity, being a personal

with the drug users counselor and

attribute, has been considered in the

would

be

given

and

study of substance abuse. Personal

report

on

their

Even

religiousness or spirituality has been

though the counselor is not using

expected to produce positive effects

family

the

on health outcomes but only little

combination of components in the

information about its influence on

therapy

information
progress.
per

se,

treating

drug

dependents

was

offered.

Similar studies conclude that

religiosity-drug

use

relationships

show a stronger connection than the

Some

researches

involving

religiosity-psychiatric

disorders

participants

from

alcoholic

relationships (Kendler et al. 2003).

anonymous

and

narcotics

The present study referred to the

anonymous

have

consistent
levels

conveyed

relationship

of

moral community hypothesis which

between

have been used to know about

drug

religiosity,

dependent clients in the spiritual

behaviors

aspects of these programs and more

alcohol abuse. Its results shown that

positive outcomes (Bristow-Braitman

an increase in church attendance and

1995; Brizer 1993; Christo and Franey

involvement

1995; Corrington 1989; Craig and

produced

Krishma 1997; Ellis and McClure

posttreatment alcohol and drug use

1992; McCradey and Miller 1993;

than

Montgomery,

and

religiosity. The answer to the first

Tonigan1995). Studies that discuss

research question of present study

about the role of religiosity as a

regarding the relationship between

protective
resource
express

participation

Miller,

factor
in
a

of

the

delinquency
that involve

in

drug and

self-help

better
measure

and

groups

effects
of

in

individual

and

personal

an individuals level of religiosity,

treatment

recovery

retention

weak

commitment

to

moderate

treatment was that individuals with

relationship to substance use and

higher levels of religiosity tended to

dependence (Brenda and Corwyn

have higher levels of commitment.

2000;

and

Moreover, the researchers found out

Prescott 1997; Miller, Davies, and

that commitment to treatment tends

Greenwald 2000; Hater, Singh, and

to

Simpson

highlight on the role of religion than

Kendler,

1984;

to

and

Gardener,

Project

Research Group 1997).

MATCH

be

higher

in

programs

that

in programs with little or no religious

emphasis and where the clientele

place

lower

value

on

the

several weeks after the baseline. The

importance of religion.

researchers suggested that policy

makers must conduct seminars to

Self-efficacy and self-esteem

health

workers

about

can influence drug relapse (Bandura,

courses

1977) and commitment to treatment.

addiction

Techniques

participation of the patients and

like

problem-solving

related

to

education

and

require

the

health

family member can help stimulate the

awareness and increase success in

level of self-efficacy and self-esteem

treatment.
In

the

to

and

education with the presence of a

among drug abusers throughout their

workers

family

study

promulgate

of

Silva

and

treatment period (Habibi, et al 2016).

Aminabhavi (2013), adolescents with

Hogue, et al (2015) found that family

drug addiction differed significantly from

therapy can be more effective in

those who are not in terms of self-

modification of adolescent behavior

efficacy,

problems involving drug abuse rather

adjustment. It was reported that drug

than

in

addicted adolescents have significantly

treatment,

lower adjustment in terms of home,

stressors, long distance to clinics,

social, emotional and educational when

absence of family and properties of

compared

prescribed

are

Similarly, drug addicted adolescents

contributors to drug relapse (Bruce,

have shown significantly lower self-

et al 2012). The results show that

efficacy and psychosocial competency

after the intervention, there found to

in terms of problem solving, decision-

be a significant increase on the mean

making, critical thinking, empathy, self-

scores of the self-efficacy and self-

awareness,

esteem of both groups. Nevertheless,

coping

the scores of the intervention group

relationships, effective communication

were greater than those of the control

as well as overall compared to the non-

group. Also, the control group had

addicted

more frequent experiences of relapse

government attempts to address the

non-family

treatment.

involvement

Inadequate

medicines

competency

to

those

coping

with

and

who

with

stress,

are

social

not.

emotions,

interpersonal

adolescents.Thus,

the

issues of drug addiction through various

1. The respondents are adults

methods one of it is through drug

aging from 18 years old and

rehabilitation.

above.
2. They are newly admitted within
2 months and less.

METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN

INSTRUMENTS

A qualitative study particularly

phenomenological

approach

was

utilized by the researchers. This helped

The researchers made use of the

following

subject matter.

for

the

data

gathering:

the researcher and the readers to have

an in depth understanding regarding the

instruments

1. Interview Questions
It is composed of seven (10) item
questions that served as guide for a
semi-structured

PARTICIPANTS

questions

interview.

revealed

the

These
different

treatment programs provided for the

The participants were male and

patients and how did they socially adjust

female (N=5) newly admitted clients in

in the rehabilitation center as well as

Quezon

how effective these programs and social

City

Drug

Treatment

and

Rehabilitation Center Tahanan.

adjustment in their recover.

2. Personal Data Sheet

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
The

subject

was

given

used

personal data sheet to determine their

purposive sampling technique to

names, age, gender and other basic

select

personal information.

their

researchers

Every

respondents.

The

following were the criteria that

served as guide for selecting the

3. Informed Consent
An

informed

consent

was

respondents that will best suit the

constructed to describe in detail the

study:

set of procedures to be done, to

indicate the promise of confidentiality

in all the responses to be given, to

of specific criteria. Before conducting

inform the participant that he/she can

the interview, the respondents had to

withdraw from the study anytime and

carefully read and sign the informed

to

the

consent which was provided by the

participant. Also, it is stated in the

researchers. The researchers also

informed

the

asked the respondents before the

respondents should participate out of

interview if they were allowed to

their free will and are free to decline

audio record the full content of the

participation or to leave the study at

interview. Semi-structured interview

any time they wished to without

was scheduled depending on the

negative consequences.

date and time availability of the

ask

permission

from

consent

that

respondents.
transcription

PROCEDURES
This part of the research
methodology

discussed

the

process in which the researchers

of

the

data

interview,

was

done.

Analyzing all the data gathered was

the last part of the process.
DATA ANALYSIS

followed in gathering data of the

qualitative study.

After

In analyzing the gathered

data, the researchers made use of
Thematic Analysis. According to

The researchers asked permission

Braun and Clarke (2006), thematic

from FEU Psychology Department by

analysis

presenting a letter to allow them to

identifying, analyzing and reporting

conduct a research in Quezon City

patterns

Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation -

Thematic Analysis is important in

Tahanan. The signed letter from the

the description of the phenomenon

Psychology Department was brought

and the themes of the gathered

to

data. The participants revealed

the

Admin

Rehabilitation

Officer

of

Center.

the
The

their

is
within

method
data

experiences

(p.

of

for
79).

the

respondents were selected through a

phenomenon, in this case, their

purposive

in

experiences while they were in the

which the researchers had set series

midst of the treatment programs.

sampling

technique

Then

the

researchers

participants, and the view of the

systematically sorted the themes

external

of the respondents answers.

Carlson, 2010, p. 1105, par 3). The

This study also used Member

researchers gave electronic copies

Checking.

Doyle

of the transcript via Facebook

(1998),

message. The respondents were

member checking is a process

asked to edit or clarify their words

wherein

were

from the transcripts and after that

given an opportunity to check

they were advised to give their

particular interpretation of the data

feedback. Basically, the purpose of

they provided (as cited in Carlson,

Member Checking was to add

2010, p. 1105, par 1). Curtin and

trustworthiness and credibility to

Fosley (2007) defined member

this study.

(2007)

According

and

to

Merriam

the

respondents

checking as the way of finding out

whether

the

data

analysis

is

congruent with the participants

experiences (as cited in Carlson,
2010, p. 1105, par 1). Creswell &
Miller

(2000)

also

stated

that

member checking requires the

incorporation

of

three

different

views namely: the view of the

researcher,

the

view

of

the

readers

(as

cited

in

References
Vivo, Megan. (2009). Giving Teen Substance Abuse the Attention it
deserves Retrieved Oct. 30, 2016 from http://www.teen-drug-abuse.org/12steps/giving-teen-substance-abuse-the-attention-it-deserves.htm
Shields, Joseph J., et al. (2007). Religion and Substance Abuse
Treatment: Individual and Program Effects. Journal for the Scientific Study of
Religion Vol 46, 3rd Edition, Pages 355371
Habibi, Rahim, et al. (2016). The Effects of Family-Centered Problem
Solving Education on Relapse Rate, Self-Efficacy and Esteem among Substance
Abusers. International Journal on High Risk Behavioral Addiction, Vol. 5 No. 1,
Pages 1-7
Silva, J.D., and Aminabhavi, V.A. 2013. Adjustment, Self-efficacy and
Psychosocial Competency of Drug
Addicted

Adolescents.

Psychology,

4(1):

13-18

(2013).http://www.krepublishers.com/02
Journals/JP/JP-04-0-000-13-Web/JP-04-1-000-13-Abst-PDF/JP-04-1-01313-095-D'Silva-J/JP-04
1-013-13-095-D'Silva-J-Tt.pdf

Appendices