Barriers and enablers to help seeking, treatment adherence and recovery among community-based drug rehabilitation clients in the Philippines

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to determine factors influencing help-seeking, accessing treatment and sustaining recovery among Filipino PWUDs during the country’s war against drugs.

Methods

Purposive sampling was used with respondents recommended by program managers or community facilitators of community-based drug rehabilitation programs. In-depth interviews with clients and their families were conducted in 17 local government units across 8 regions in the Philippines. Transcripts were analyzed using Nvivo 12.

Results

The results highlight barriers to help-seeking, including the PWUDs’ belief that they don’t need help, fear of police and incarceration, stigma and discrimination. Enablers to help seeking and treatment adherence were motivation to change, accessible treatment options and family support. Community acceptance, quality of care of service providers, and support of community leaders enabled both help-seeking and recovery.

Conclusion

The findings suggest the impact of a punitive approach and the need to reframe drug use as a health issue. Results also suggest the need to reduce stigma and discrimination and promote positive messaging to enable help-seeking, adherence, and recovery.

Keywords:

• Philippines
• drug rehabilitation
• drug demand reduction
• mental health
• social behavior change communications

Acknowledgements

This report is made possible by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the terms of the Cooperative Agreement No. 72049219CA00004. The funders played no role in research design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript write up or decision to publish. The findings and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USAID or the United States Government. The authors wish to thank Dr. Yolanda Oliveros and Madison Ethridge for their review and input on this article.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Notes

1 A ‘tanod’ is a village or barangay security & safety officer.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the research was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).