The therapeutic community experiences of persons wit \h substance use disorder (SUD)

Abstract

Drugs are a prevalent issue in the Philippines and have been controversial due to the government's 'war on drugs' since 2016. This study looked into the subjective experiences of persons with SUD to their therapeutic community experience in a treatment and rehabilitation facility, the challenges they encountered upon their discharge, and their coping. The results of the study assisted in the identification of the themes common to the experiences of persons with SUD. Further, the results may serve as a basis for the construction of intervention programs that would supplement the recovery process of persons with SUD and maintain their sobriety. This study determined the experiences of persons with SUD in their treatment and rehabilitation. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What are the therapeutic community experiences of the respondents as in-patients in the treatment and rehabilitation facility? 2. What are the challenges faced by the respondents after discharge? 3. What are the coping strategies of the respondents? The researcher used the qualitative research approach specifically on the interpretive phenomenological method. The population of the study involves ten male adults who completed their treatment and rehabilitation program and were residing in Baguio City, Benguet during the time of the data gathering. In-depth interviews were used to gather data among the respondents and one family member or friend. 1. There were four main themes under the therapeutic community experiences of the respondent namely: community separateness, psychoeducation activities, interpersonal experiences, and intrapersonal experiences. a. The introspection has the highest frequency of responses as a subtheme under the community separateness. It is followed by resistance, longing for loved ones, and a changed perception towards rehabilitation with the same frequency. b. In psychoeducation activities, cognitive-behavioral management has the highest frequency of responses. Health and spiritual dimensions followed. The least frequently identified were affective/emotional dimensions and psychomotor/vocational-survival skills. c. The leadership roles have the highest frequency of responses under the interpersonal experiences, followed by the peer roles and then the staff roles. d. Under intrapersonal experiences, personal responsibility has the highest frequency of responses. It is followed by both patience and self-motivation. Valuing has the least frequency of responses. 2. The highest frequency of responses along with the challenges encountered by the persons with SUD is relational challenges; followed by the financial concerns and the effects of the pandemic, and by shame and stigma. Fear came after and relapse is the least. 3. In the area of coping of persons with SUD, both positive reappraisal and self-control have the highest frequency of responses. It is followed by productivity, hope, and priorities consecutively. a. The highest frequency of responses along the sources of support was from the family of the persons with SUD, followed by friends, the aftercare programs, and the community as the least. Based on the findings, the following conclusions are derived. 1. Generally, the therapeutic community experiences of the persons with SUD yielded positive experiences and enabled them to recover from their SUD. a. The experiences with the community separateness of persons with SUD are a combination of positive and negative emotions and experiences that resulted in the achievement of the TC's treatment and rehabilitation goals. b. The psychoeducation activities in the TC promoted the different areas of growth and development of the persons with SUD. c. The interpersonal experiences of the persons with SUD with the other TC members elicited various roles they have to be responsible and accountable for. d. The intrapersonal experiences caused by the TC experience among the persons with SUD yielded to their self-development. 2. Personal and environmental sources of challenges were encountered by the persons with SUD. 3. The coping strategies of persons with SUD are an interplay of both their cognitive and behavioral processes. It lessened the difficulties brought about by various challenges concerning their condition. a. The persons with SUD have a strong support system that helps them in their recovery process. Based on the conclusions, the following are recommended. 1. The following are suggested for the Therapeutic Community Approach experience of the persons with SUD: a. The Therapeutic Community Approach is encouraged to be integrated into the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with Substance Use Disorder. b. The rehabilitation facilities can be equipped with staff equivalent to the increasing number of admissions to better address the concerns of the patients. c. Individual counseling sessions can be enforced as an additional intervention to process issues not addressed by the collective method. d. Family therapies may be facilitated depending on the need of each TC member. e. The supplementary interventions proposed by the researcher may be reviewed by administrators of the drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities for possible implementation. f. The model generated may serve as an evaluation as well as a basis for implementing programs and interventions in the drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities. 2. The following are suggested for the challenges encountered by the persons with SUD upon discharge: a. The local government unit can provide employment opportunities for individuals who underwent treatment and rehabilitation. This is an immediate need among individuals who were separated from society for quite some time. b. Appointed psychologists or therapists can be assigned in the community for consultation of the persons with SUD about the challenges they experience. 3. The following are suggested for the coping of the persons with SUD: a. Community psychoeducation on shame and stigma may be implemented to further strengthen the support system of the persons with SUD. b. An aftercare or probationary period, as a form of follow-up, may be enforced on all persons with SUD after their treatment and rehabilitation. This will lessen the likelihood of relapse and monitor the continuing recovery of persons with SUD. 4. Further studies may be conducted among the special population such as the LGBT community. A comparative study may be conducted between those who volunteered for treatment and those who were required by the court order. Also, a comparative study on the effectiveness of TC implemented in in-patient facilities, out-patient programs, aftercare monitoring, and probation may also be studied.