Getting into prohibited drugs or being dead drunk will not at all solve one’s problem” Leonie said.

Leonie Buhion Belarmino, 51 years old is a recovered drug dependent. A resident of Zone 2, Bulan, Sorsogon, Leonie is married with three children all boys. But bad fate brought his family to be dismantled. His wife has her own family and his two son is staying with her wife. His eldest son died from a vehicular accident. Leonie is staying with his father. The third child among the 11 siblings. Born to parents whose income is just enough to support the family especially that all the children are in school. Life was tough for the family so he decided to help his father earn a living. Industry is inherent with Leonie. After school, he would go with his father fishing and on weekends he would sell fresh fish. Leonie shared that he finds happiness when he is able to help his father earn a living. “Pangarap ng aming mga magulang na kami ay makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. (It’s our parents desire to see all of us finish our studies.), Leonie said.

Getting into drugs.

At the age of 13, through peer pressure started to drink “tuba.” “Tuba” otherwise known as coconut wine is a sweet, fresh or mildly fermented sap taken from tripping the young expanded flowers of the coconut. For Leonie and friends, “tuba” is the most affordable instead of buying hard liquor. But it was from this coconut wine where Leonie started his vices. Since Leony never stopped from earning a living even at an early age, he always have some penny in his pocket. From the influence of his friends and some schoolmates, he now started to take cough syrup and take marijuana. Addiction affected much his family especially that he already started to sell his personal belongings and tried to get his mother’s medicine. His mother has a heart ailment that one of the medicines prescribed is a tranquilizer.He started using this prohibited drugs in 1997. This caused a problem to his family.

Feeling unwanted, Leonie went to try his luck in Manila and thought of getting away from addiction. Leonie was lucky enough that he was able to find a job. He worked as promo boy for eight years in Manila. “ Lalo akong nalulong sa droga kasi yong tinitirhan kong pinsan ay gumagamit din ng bawal na gamot”.( The more that I get addicted in Manila because my cousin whom I was staying with is also a user of prohibited drugs.” Leonie claimed. Meron akong perang pambili hindi lang nang marijuana kundi shabu at minsan tinikman ko na rin ang cocaine”. (I have already money that I could afford to buy not only marijuana but shabu and even tried cocaine.), Leonie added.

This came to the attention of his father so that in August 20,1986 he was brought by his father to the Psychiatric Department of Quezon City General Hospital where he stayed for three months rehabilitation. Upon discharge he was able to return back to work. The following year he was able to get married. They were blessed with three children. Pinanindigan ko ang isang mabuting ama. Inayos ang paghahanap buhay at pilit kong kinalimutan ang droga. “(I tried to prove my worth as good father and a family man, worked hard and have done away using the prohibited drugs) Leonie claimed.

However the more that he became an addict when he met frustrations in life. He was then 34 years old, when he became addicted to shabu. “Ang paghihithit ng shabu ay ang aking paraan para makalimot sa aking madilim na karanasan sa buhay”, (Snipping shabu was my way to forget all the dark experiences that I had) Leonie sighed with tears falling on his cheeks.

Life’s Struggle

After marriage, Leonie established his residence in Laguna. But he cannot deny that he has to stay away from his family most often because of the demand of his work as a salesman. One day he learned that his wife left their abode with another man bringing with her their children. Another trauma that came into Leonie’s life was when his eldest died due to vehicular accident. He still tried and did everything to win back his wife but to no avail. Given the situation, the more that Leonie was tied up to drugs. He had nowhere to go except to join his friends until the time that he lost his job and eventually his friends. He vividly recalled that he also lost his job and his money. Not a single penny was left in his pocket. Leonie also shared that he lost contact with his family for almost seven months. I had an acute psychological and behavioral problem as shared by my family. “Ako ay naging taong grasa. Para makakain, ako ay namalimos o kumuha ng mga tira-tira sa mga restoran o carenderia.” (I became a psychotic vagrant, lived in the street. I go on begging or ask left over foods in carenderias or restaurants for my food.) Leonie bared. I was able to reached Manila from Pangasinan on foot.

As the saying goes that “Blood is thicker than water”, with the concerted effort of his family looked for Leonie. His brother was able to find him. He was then brought to Mandaluyong Rehabilitation Center where he was treated then brought back to Bicol where he was again admitted at the Department of Psychiatry of the Bicol Medical Center in Pili, Camarines Sur. After his three months stay, he was brought back home but it was observed that he is again from time to time taking shabu and his psychotic behavior is recurring. The support of the family is a big factor in Leonie’s recovery.

Family’s Support

His father did not stop in looking for institutions where it could help Leonie for his full recovery. His father learned about the Malinao Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (MTRC), Malinao, Albay. He was then admitted and stayed for one year. Upon discharged he went back to his hometown and stayed with his father.

To have his own income, his siblings gave him money where he could use as capital to start a small business. He invested the amount in buy and sell of school supplies and other dry goods. His business is doing well. To find ease in his mobility as he is peddling his goods, his brother bought him a tricycle. “Malaki ang tulong sa aking pagbabago ang aking pamilya. Hindi nila ako pinapabayaan” (The support of my family is a big help for my recovery and reform. I am getting their full support and intervention), said Leonie. Since the family and the other siblings are just staying in one compound, Leonie has all the time to bond with them. He has his siblings whom he could talk with if he needed someone to talk to.

Realization and Intervention

One day, he realized that drug addiction have put his life in mess. He wanted to change for good. The reason why there was no desistance when his father decided to bring him to Malinao Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. He knows that it will best help him.

According to Leonie his stay in the rehabilitation center paved a way to let him see life in a different scale.” I decided to be back to the Lord. Detoxification and withdrawal from drugs was the most difficult in the rehabilitation program. But with determination I was able to surpass these difficulties.” said Leonie

Having shown good performance while in the rehabilitation center, Leonie was identified and qualified to be with the intervention group of the START. During the intervention, the START provided medical treatment and recovery through strengthening the spiritual aspect of the person. It also provided him a cash grant of P5, 000.00 for him to start with a livelihood activities. From the grant, Leonie bought a motorized banca where he could use for his fishing business. According to Leonie he does not anymore go out for fishing. Instead he has the banca rented of which he is receiving an income of at least 500.00 per week. He proudly shares that from his buy and sell business and from the boat rental, he is receiving a good income. Leonie proudly said that he is now able to help his brothers and sisters provide a living for their father and now able to send financial support to his two son.

Leonie Belarmino is now a strong partner in the advocacy campaign to educate and prepare families and communities on the adverse effects of drugs. He is also actively involved in the promotion of family life enrichment activities especially those who are recovering from drug dependency to equip them with parenting and life skills to ensure a drug free home.

START PROGRAM

The Strategy Toward Acceptance, Reintegration and Transformation (START) which was piloted in Bicol Region is a one of the DSWD’s program which focuses on the organization of recovering drug dependents who will later become the advocacy arm at the community level and shall be equipped through the provision of the following existing basic, social and psychological services such as Assistance In Crisis Situation (AICS), economic and livelihood assistance, emergency shelter assistance and referral services. ###eejerusalem