The psychological and social changes experienced by drug dependents after rehabilitation treatment

• Main Authors: Aguilera, Christel Joy T., Gutierrez, Annabelle A., Hui, Phoebe Mae Y.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2009
• Subjects: Drug addicts; Drug addicts > Rehabilitation; Drug abuse > Treatment; Rehabilitation > Psychological aspects; Drugs > Physiological effect
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/6739
• Institution: De La Salle University

The people who are dependent on drugs are increasing, but not all of them go through rehabilitation treatment. The rehabilitation treatment provides a venue for the drug dependents to learn how to live without drugs. In the process, they are also taught how to handle various aspects of their lives. Going through that, the study aims to find out what social and psychological changes that the drug dependents experience after being released from the rehabilitation centers. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews to 18 recovering drug dependents who are adults, who have completed rehabilitation treatment, and have been released from the rehabilitation center with a minimum of six months. The changes in the now recovering drug dependents include adjustments in their interaction with their family, friends and co-workers. There are also differences in their goals-they now form bigger and more concrete goals. In addition, the drug dependents gained insights and realizations on who they are to avoid their old self. Generally, the drug dependents experience a total transformation in their lifestyles.