Chapter 1

Introduction

The entire nations around the globe face the same threat brought about by the imminent

widespread of illegal drugs. Despite the fact that laws and policies have been created and applied

against the use of illegal drugs, many people still fearlessly use it. Early researches of illegal

drug use explained its long-term physical and psychological effects. The complications vary

depending on the substance abused (Rahul, Saxena, MD, 2010).

Drug use in the Philippines, as identified by the US government, was a significant

problem due to corruption and poor law enforcement. According to recent statistics from the

Dangerous Drug Boar, 1.7 million Filipinos are addicted to illegal drugs (approximately 1.6

percent of the population). The availability of various types of dangerous drugs increases the

likelihood for drug users to be involved in illegal drug activities. Thus, majority of the drug users

in the country are considered to be poly-drug users for they use several types of illegal drugs.

In the Philippine society, illegal drug users who voluntarily surrenders is a growing

phenomenon concerning on number of extra judicial killings. Adults and youths may engage in

illegal drug use to keep the company of their friends who are already engaging in these

behaviours, especially if trading and using of drugs are common and considered cool in group

activities. In the report of the Philippines Center for Investigative Journalism in 2016 there were

20,584 drug surrenderees on the Duterte administration’s first two months. Eighteen thousand

nine hundred two (18,902) are males, 1,273 are females, 63 are gays and 346 are lesbian. The

percentage shows that 8.35% are drugs users, 1.33% are drugs pushers and 0.32% are drug

couriers (PDEA Annual report 2013).

 Drug surrederees face challenges as they live in the community because the public

perceive addicts as deviant, despicable, self-destructive and incurable, and the fear both real and

perceive, of prosecution and persecution which still continue to evade them. The Philippines'

drug users are shunned by society and hunted by assassins, find they have nowhere to turn

(Kaiman, 2016). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the stigma attached about

them is when a person has a drug problem, they have a disease that can hurt the family. Drug use

puts a lot of stress on anyone who is part of the home. When family members take drugs. People

can't count on them to do what they say they will do. They may forget or get distracted because

their focus is on getting and taking drugs. They might lie or steal money to buy drugs. They

might get fired from their jobs. They might not come home at night. They may do bad things

they would never do if they weren't using drugs. People who are stigmatized for their drug

involvement can endure social rejection, labelling, stereotyping and discrimination, even in the

absence of any negative consequences associated with their drug use. This manifests in a variety

of ways, including denial of employment or housing. The way we talk about drugs and the

people who use them can create or uphold stigma. Words like ‘crackhead,’ ‘junkie’ and

‘pillhead’ dehumanize a person who may be struggling with addiction. Focus on the whole

person, not a behaviour. Instead of ‘addict’, refer to a person addicted to drugs.

Many studies have focused on identifying the causes and effects of illegal drug use in

individuals. However in order to fully understand the phenomenon of illegal drug use among

drug surrenderees, studies must also be oriented towards their perspective. Thus, it is within this

context that this study will be realized and doing so will enable us to describe and understand the

coping strategies of drug surrenderees in the Tobias Fornier Antiqu )e.

 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Specifically, this study aims to seek answers to the following questions:

1. What changes have occurred in the lives of the drug surrenderees they have surrendered?

2. How did the surrenderees cope or handle these changes in their lives?

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to find out the coping mechanisms of drug surrenderees in

the municipality of Tobias Fornier. By

Significance of the study

There is a substantial amount of research examining the prevalence of addiction,

the nature of addiction and its treatment. Drug surrenderees are in a growing number and there is

insufficient research discussing their coping strategies. Illegal drug activities have negatively

affected different lives both financially and relationally thus the result of the study will be

beneficial to the following:

Families. The result of the research will be mostly helpful to the families of the

drug surrenderees. With the gathered information they will be able to come up with ideas in

helping their family member who surrendered.

Drug Surrenderees. The study aims to help drug surrenderees in starting their

new life and give them options or ways on how to cope with the dark past of their lives.
 Teachers. The result of the study will be used as a source of information in

understanding the lives of those drug surrenderees. This will also serve as a way of information

dissemination when this topic is discussed with other students.

Guidance counsellors. The findings of the study will serve as a basis for guidance

counsellors to initiate proper plans for evaluation and intervention of students and clients who

has having problems with drugs.

Students. The result of the study will lead students to establish proper actions in

getting away with drugs. They will be informed on the factors involved in drug activities and

effects of drug use on a lot of aspects of life. This will direct them in making interventions for

themselves in getting away with any drug related issue.

Future Researchers. The findings will give access to the future researchers about

the coping strategies of drug surrenderees and to make further researches related to this study.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the experiences and coping strategies of drug surrenderees in the

municipality of Tobias Fornier. During the conduct of the study, the respondents will be

recruited using purposive sampling 6 drug surrenderees. The nature of the study is depth

interview wherein individuals who are drug surrenderees will be asked about their experiences

and how they cope with these experiences.

 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Drug surrenderees- they are drug users who surrendered themselves and have difficulties in

finding ways to cope with the dark past of their life. They will be the main respondents of this

research study.

Coping strategies- these are strategies that will help drug surrenderees handle or deal with the

problems or challenges brought about by their surrendering.

Phenomenology- is the study of structures of consciousness as experienced form the first person

point of view.
 Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This part of the study will be discussing the relevant literature connected with the study

of the Drug surrenderees in the municipality of Tobias Fornier. We start by reviewing the history

of drug abuse as a mental health issue followed by the explanation of cycles of addiction. We

continue by examining current treatment and strategies for drug rehabilitation. Finally, we

synthesize the research by examining the coping strategies of drug surrenderees in the

municipality of Tobias Fornier.

History of Drug Abuse

According to the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) in Kenya which was
initiated in early 2001, the past twenty years has seen drugs and drug abuse soar to an extent that
it now cuts across all sectors of life. The level of the drug abuse is startling and even more
frightening because of the fact that many young people are getting wired on drugs each passing
day. Alcohol, bhang ad tobacco are increasingly being abused by school going children.
Research and seizure statistics show it has a steady upward trend. Those between 16 to 30 years
of age, a critical period in one’s development are most affected. A few years ago the most
commonly abused drugs among students were tobacco, alcohol, bhang and “miraa” but today
opium, cocaine and heroin have added to the list. Use of sleeping pills, tranquiller, cough
mixture, inhalants such as glue and petrol is now rampant especially among the street youngster.
In Nairobi alone 50% of students have in the past taken drugs.

As drugs have been abused for hundreds of years all over the world, their effects have been felt

for just as long. Since drugs have been used, there were always those who abused them, which

led to full-blown addiction and the bevy of side effects that come with it. As the physical and
mental health implications of addiction became clearer, rehabilitation efforts began to appear.

Per the University of Utah, in the past, addiction was treated as a criminal offense, with

intensive faith-based prayer, or in mental institutions, but this signified a shift to viewing

addiction as an illness that could be managed (Eric Patterson, MSCP, NCC, LPC, 2017).

Addiction and mental health issues often go together. If a person is struggling with an

addiction, many times he will also be struggling with mental health issue. This condition is

called having co-occurring disorders, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that

those with an addiction are about twice as likely to suffer from at least one mental health issue,

and vice versa (Siobhan A. Morse, MHSA, CRC, CAI, MAC, 2014). When you have both a

substance abuse problem and a mental health issue such as depression, bipolar disorder, or

anxiety, it is called a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis (Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Melinda

Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., 2016). It is never easy in dealing with substance abuse,

alcoholism, or drug addiction and when you are also struggling with mental health problems is

more difficult, but there are the things that you can do and treatment that can help you get your

life back on track. Addiction is common in people with mental health problems. According to

reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, roughly 50 percent of

individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse; 37 percent of alcohol

abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness; Of all people

diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs. The best treatment for co-

occurring disorders is an integrated approach, where both the substance abuse problem and the

mental disorder are treated simultaneously (Joanna Saisan, M.S.W., Melinda Smith, M.A., and

Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., 2016).

Cycle of Addiction

Drug and alcohol addiction research has clearly demonstrated that the addicted brain is

chemically and physiologically different from a normal brain (Recovery Connection, 2011). The

cycle of addiction is created by changes produced in brain chemistry from substance abuse. It is

perpetuated by physiological, psychological and emotional dependency (Recovery Connection,

2011). Many individuals who misuse substances find themselves caught between a cycle of

recovery and relapse. Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is

compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences (National Institute on Drug

Abuse, 2016). Addiction develops over time and usually begins with misuse, moving toward

abuse and resulting in addiction (Recovery Connection, 2011). Understanding addiction cycle

will help us realize how this disease operates and why we need to look outside ourselves for a

solution to recover (Our Journey from Addiction to Journey, 2015). First, Obsession develops,

we experience intense reward & euphoria from using drugs, Drugs help us cope with stress &

problems, and drugs become our number one priority in life; Second, Insanity Develops, drug

abuse disrupts our brain’s communication system, Our life becomes more chaotic &

unmanageable, and Self-reliance or our will power cannot help us; Third, Craving develops, the

way our brain nerve cells send, receive, and process information becomes abnormal, and Slowly

our brain becomes dependent on drugs to function normally; Fourth, Tolerance develops, Our

brain adapts and builds tolerance towards unnatural chemicals / drugs, and we have now lost the

power of choice and control over our drug use; Fifth, Experience hopelessness, we are not aware

we suffer from a disease, we believe we are bad & weak people, and we feel shame, guilt and

regret over our drug use; Sixth, Reach rock bottom, this cycle is repeated over and over again

until we reach rock bottom, many of us end up in institutions and asylums, and many of us kill
ourselves or die due to consequences of our addiction (Our Journey from Addiction to Journey,

2015).

Treatment and Strategies for Drug Rehabilitation

"Various kinds of programs provide facilitate in drug rehabilitation, including:

residential treatment (in-patient), out-patient, native support teams, extended care centers,

recovery or sober homes, addiction counseling, psychological state, orthomolecular medication

and treatment. In a survey of treatment suppliers from 3 separate establishments (the National

Association of Alcoholism and substance abuse Counselors, Rational Recovery Systems and also

the Society of Psychologists in addictive Behaviors) activity the treatment providers responses

on the non-secular Belief Scale (a scale activity belief within the four non secular characteristics

AA known by Ernest Kurtz); the scores were found to elucidate forty first of the variance within

the treatment providers responses on the Addiction Belief Scale (a scale activity adherence to the

illness model or the free-will model addiction). The National Institute on substance abuse

(NIDA) recommends detoxification followed by each medication (where applicable) and

behavioural medical care, followed by relapse interference. According to NIDA, effective

treatment should address medical and psychological state services still as follow-up choices, like

community or family based mostly recovery support systems.

Drug surrenderees in Antique

 Chapter III

METHODOLOGY
This chapter discusses the research design and method used in the study.

Research Design

This study is mainly qualitative in nature, making use of the phenomenological approach

to describe and understand as accurately as possible the coping strategies of drug surrenderees in

the municipality of Tobias Fornier. Phenomenology is the study of structures of consciousness as

experienced form the first person point of view (Smith,Woodruff, 2016).

Participants

Drug surrenderees which are known to the researchers are the target participants

of this study. Six drug surrenderees with ages 15 VfB-40 years old will be participating in this

study. The drug surrenderees must involve in the Oplan Tokhang Program of the Philippine

National Police from July 2016 up to present. The participants are from different barangays in

the municipality of Tobias fornier.

Research Instrument

A semi structured interview will be used in collecting the data. This type of interview was

the most familiar strategy in collecting the data (Bloom & Crabtree 2006). Which will help

researcher to obtain all the necessary information needed and to allow the researcher to ask

follow up questions for clarification. The researcher will be guided by the research problem of

the present study in formulating the guide questions.

 Two sets of interview questions will be used, the first focusing on the participant’s basic

information and the second one design to discuss the coping mechanisms of drug surrenderees.

The questions will be given in the native dialect of the interviewees and worded in the simplest

way possible to not limit their understanding and responses to the questions. Depending on the

responses of the interviewee, follow up questions will be provided.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researcher will explain to each of the participant what the research is about. They

will inform them that their identities will be protected during the conduct of the study, and even

in the writing of the report. They will only be given aliases. Moreover they will inform them that

they have the right to refuse any questions that they believe is too private, and they have the right

to withdraw from the study anytime they want. After they have fully understood about the nature

of research and their roles in the study, they will be made to sign the consent forms. For

participants who are minors, parental consent will be sought.

Ethical consideration
 Prior to collecting the data, permission to conduct the study will be obtained from the

Barangay Captain. An informed consent will first be given to the participants. This will state the

objectives of the study, the involvement entailed of them, and the terms for privacy and

confidentiality. It will be explained to the participants that they have the right to withdraw or

discontinue their participation at any time. They also will have the right to refuse to respond to

the questions in the interview and the individual privacy of the subjects will be maintained in all

published and written data. With the consent of the participants, an individual interview will be

scheduled for each of them at their own discretion of the date, time and venue of the interview,

appropriate to their schedule and convenience. Before the start of every interview, permission to

audio record the entire interview will be obtained. Interviews will be in semi-structured form,

beginning with questions regarding basic personal information. The interview will proceed with

open ended research questions designed to make them share their lived experiences as drug

surrenderee.

The interview will end with thanking the participant for sharing his or her story and the

parents for allowing their child to join the interview. Their contact numbers will be asked and in

turn, they will be given the researchers contact number in case there is a need to conduct follow

up interviews or if they have further questions with regards to the study.

Data Analysis.

All interviews will be audio recorded and labelled accordingly. At the end of each

interview day, the audio recording of each interview will be transcribed in verbatim. Once

transcribed, the researcher will proceed with the formal data analysis.
 For this study, thematic analysis will be used to analyse the data. It is a method for

identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns within the data to analyze the data. It involves

familiarizing with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes,

defining and naming themes, and producing the report (Braun and Clark, 2006). The following

presents a more detailed operationalization of these steps for the purpose of this study.

Familiarizing with the data. In this step, the researcher will listen repeatedly to the

audio recording to become familiar with the words before coding and searching for meanings

and patterns and we will transcribe the verbal data. This involves a transition from viewing the

audio recordings of the interview as mere answers to probe questions into understanding how it

presents itself as the empirical accounts for the lives experiences of the drug surrenderees.

Generating initial codes. For better understanding of how participants experience,

significant statements are then highlighted of what is being studied.

Searching for themes. The researchers will have a list of different codes and focused on

the broader level of themes of the lived experiences of Drug surrenderees.

Reviewing themes. The researchers will refine the themes of the lived experiences of

drug surrenderees. Reviewing at the level of coded data and level of the themes.

Defining and naming themes. In this step, we will create an overall narrative with all of

our data and analyze each theme and its individual narrative to know if overall narrative is fit.

Producing the report. In this final step, researchers will have a final analysis and write

up the report. The report is concise, coherent, logical, non-repetitive and interesting account of

the story to read by others.