Pubdate: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 Source: Sunstar Pangasinan (Philippines) Copyright: 2002 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/news/news_article_affiliate.php3?id=13842 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1726 Author: Fred Roxas 400 DRUG USERS TO 'GRADUATE' FROM REHAB CENTER MAGALANG -- A total of 400 more drug dependents will "graduate" on March 16 from a six-month treatment at the Central Luzon Regional Drug Rehabilitation Center (CLRDRC) in this Pampanga town. Sr. Supt. Conrado Briton, CLRDRC director, said that at least 465 other drug dependents have graduated from the center since it was established three years ago. Most of those who have undergone rehabilitation at the center were from Bulacan. The rest came from Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. Briton said that about 40 percent of the graduates have pursued their studies in some colleges and universities and about 45 percent have already been employed in different industrial firms at the Mariveles Economic Zone in Bataan, Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales. All former drug dependents rehabilitated at the center were being placed under the police after-care program in which their activities were being monitored, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Luzon under regional director Flor Villar and all local government units (LGUs) in the region. Only very few former drug dependents who have been monitored to have returned to illegal drug using have been committed at the center for further rehabilitation, according to Briton. Briton commended Gov. Lito Lapid for releasing P2 million for the construction of another building at CLRDRC. Most of the patients at the center belong to poor families who cannot afford to send their drug dependents to private rehabilitation centers. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth