By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Drug Rehabilitation Center (NODRC) located at Camp General Aniceto Lacson compound in Victorias City offers a safe and conducive venue for treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents.
Dr. Ernesto Palanca, NODRC executive director, said the institution is a treatment and rehabilitation center in the province to combat the drug menace.
Palanca said the primary mission of the center is to treat and rehabilitate drug dependents as fast as possible in support of the demand reduction of the thrust of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
It was established in the city to answer the need for such a facility of more than 2,000 reported drug dependents in the province.
Affirming its commitment as a catalyst for social transformation, the NODRC provides equal opportunities to enhance substance dependents to become effective and productive citizens of the society to effect values transformation and to preserve all that is good in Filipino culture.
He said it is a treatment-facility that develops the potentials of drug dependents through education, skills training, and public awareness empowering them to gain greater control over their lives and future vision.
He said the facility is focused on the improved treatment plan for drug dependents who, without the rehabilitation as an intervention, drug addiction will continue to rise in the alarming rate in the Philippine society.
It dedicates itself towards providing a multi-disciplinary treatment for substance dependents in a holistic approach and with the knowledge for human security and development as the key to sustainable development.
Palanca said the center operated as a primary care hospital with exclusive specialty – treatment and rehabilitation of drugs and dangerous substance dependent in support of the war against drugs.
This is based on the perspective that development is about changing people and ultimately transforming their lives and society as well, he added.
The treatment has three phases – self-willed care and medical detoxification for 15 days, integration care for six months, and aftercare.
