The price to pay for the chance to change

(Editor’s Note: A hundred days after President Duterte declared an all-out war against illegal drugs, cash-strapped communities are scrambling to address a phenomenal  number of drug users and pushers who have answered calls to mend their ways or die. In this series of articles, the Inquirer takes a hard look at how authorities are struggling to give them a new lease on life.)

(Third of four parts)

Four city mayors, celebrities and foreigners who were once  “shabu” and marijuana addicts had been patients at this rehabilitation center located 57.4 kilometers south of Manila.

For about 15 months, a tall gate shielded them from the public, from judging eyes that deemed them useless or threats to society.

For 15 months, they lived away from their families, who  shunned the stigma caused by their drug addiction.

After 15 months, they were back—renewed and, it is hoped, useful to society.

They had been treated at Seagulls Flight Foundation Inc., a residential rehabilitation center in Tagaytay City, Cavite province, for moderate to heavy drug users.

Goal for users

The establishment of the center was inspired by the 1970 novella by Richard Bach “Jonathan Livingston Seagull—A story,” about a seagull who was expelled from his flock because of his refusal to conform with the limited ways of seagulls.

Alone but seized with a passion for life and flight, Jonathan found his purpose, discovered his strengths and weaknesses  and, in the end, found joy and peace.

The one who once had broken wings, recovered, flew again and soared high.

That’s primarily the goal for drug users, according to Seagulls founder and executive director Ed Castillo. Redemption, not condemnation; acceptance, not execution.

The private rehab center established in 1998 currently houses 50 patients who come from all walks of life, but mostly from well-off families who can pay tens of thousands of pesos a month.  The center has patients from as far as Jolo in Mindanao.

One of them, Eric, 52, a lawyer who came from a family of judges, was in denial of his addiction. Hitting rock bottom, he walked into the center. “I needed help,” he said.

‘Lawyering’ for addicts

“I went to rehab in March 2015. That time, I was about to hit rock bottom with my drug use,” he said.

Eric used drugs for recreation for 17 years. At the height of his addiction, he spent up to  P6,000 on drugs in just one day.

He used to be a lawyer for drug users and pushers caught by police. “I would look into lapses in the chain of custody, work around it so I could get them acquittal,” he said.

Eric used to work for 14 hours. But because of his addiction, he was productive for only  three hours. “I felt drugs were already stopping me, that my brain was flying away,” he said.

He tried to quit, but kept falling off the wagon.

Then he discovered Seagulls.

There, away from the bustling city, in a place nestled on a lush, windy ridge, patients take things one step at a time.

Inside the center, sex, cell phones, chocolate, cigarette and alcohol are prohibited. Only certain types of books and magazines and television programs are allowed. The goal is to prevent craving or distraction in patients.

Private rehab

Seagulls is one of 27 privately managed residential centers in the Philippines. Only wealthy junkies can afford them.

According to Dr. Jasmin Peralta of the Department of Health, private rehab centers, such as Seagulls, cost around P50,000 per person per month. In a year, that’s roughly P600,000.

At such centers, patients are served food buffet-style. They have their own nutritionists and they monitor patients’ food intakes.

At Seagulls, patients sleep in beds in air-conditioned rooms that can accommodate five to 12 people. Patients are never allowed to be alone—it’s risky, according to Castillo.

Seagull’s youngest patient is 16-year-old “Ken.” The oldest is  64.

Preparation, cleansing

Ken, a marijuana and shabu user, was tricked by his parents into delivering flowers from their shop at the Dangwa flower market in Sampaloc, Manila, to Seagulls a few months ago. He has never gotten out since.

At Seagulls, patients either voluntarily walk in or are brought in, Castillo said.

Before treatment, patients are sent to a private hospital for detoxification. They also undergo a battery of psychological exams.

Patients undergo a six-month primary treatment. During the first four months, the staff prepare them for their first family dialogue.

“We do therapeutic community. We do mirroring. It’s tough love as they say,” Castillo said. “But there is no violence. This is not a jail. There are no threats.”

Among the techniques used is “confrontation,” where patients are watched and called out for every fumble or little mistake they make.

Every fumble is magnified—a lousy shirt, forgetting to greet visitors, even bad handwriting.

Patients have to listen, yield and apologize.

More fumbles mean more sanctions, such as harder tasks or, worse, extended rehab time.

“Practically, we heal their bruised ego here,” Castillo said. “During the sessions, we ask the patients to verbalize their fear and pain, and then we talk about the program so they can process it.”

Ex-addicts on the staff

Four of the staff members at the center are former addicts. Castillo is one of them. He used to be hooked on LSD and marijuana, but has been clean for 43 years.

He supervises individualized treatment plans, group sessions, psychological education and evaluation of patients, who all need a court order prior to admission.

Unlike other private rehab centers, Seagulls offers its patients activities like climbing Pico de Loro, trail biking in Nuvali and trips abroad. This month, the patients are going to Malacca for a conference about illegal drugs.

At Seagulls, patients are equipped so they can work as trainers in the future.

For Eric, his stay made him feel accepted, safe, loved and whole.

“I would just look at the sky, and the trees and I feel like I am ready to go outside, that these few months would prepare me for the outside world,” he said.

After his release, he fulfilled his vow to serve as lawyer for Seagulls patients.

According to Eric, the best way to prevent relapse is to find accountability partners or support group after treatment.

“It’s without parallel. To help another addict overcome his addiction is priceless,” he said.

For John, another former Seagulls patient and now a staff member, being clean is a matter of time. Drug addiction, he said, is an everyday battle.

“I can say I am clean now. Now. Tomorrow? Maybe. I don’t know yet,” he said.