A TOTAL of 80 drug surrenderers in Bacolod City recently completed the eight-week out-patient rehabilitation program in various barangays.
Executive Assistant Rodel Parcon, focal person on drug rehabilitation, said that out of the 108 identified for rehabilitation by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), only 80 finished the program.
Some of the surrenderers failed to join the various rehabilitation activities in their respective barangays for unknown reasons.
The activities were led by the Department of Social Services and Development and City Health Office.
Parcon said the 80 surrenderers will undergo a drug test again to ensure that they are no longer involved in illegal drug activities.
“Those who will be tested negative will be given a job or will receive livelihood assistance,” he said.
In February, hundreds of drug users voluntarily surrendered to 10 police stations and were turned over to the BCPO and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac) for the drug rehabilitation.
Cadac was re-organized by Mayor Evelio Leonardia as part of the efforts to reduce illegal drug activities and help transform the lives of those who engage in illegal drugs.
Parcon said they will continue to monitor those who will be tested negative to ensure that they will not return to their illegal drug activities.
He said they will start a second batch of profiling and screening of drug surrenderers this month to determine the degree of their drug dependence.