– says Rehab Manager as Salvation Army celebrates 120 years“Rehab is not for bad people, it is for people who make mistakes.”By Sharmain GraingerAt 14 years of age many children are in school benefiting from a much needed educationThe Salvation Army’s Men’s Social Centre at Kingston, Georgetown.that will likely help craft their future. This is however not true for Eon (not his real name).This lad is currently enrolled in the Rehabilitation Programme at the Salvation Army’s Men’s Social Centre at Kingston, Georgetown, fighting a Marijuana addiction.Marijuana also known as cannabis, or simply ganja, is a herb that many have maintained has health benefits, but a well known fact is that its abuse can be calamitous.What might surprise some of you is that Eon is no “deh bad” youth. He was brought up in a well-to-do family and was attending one of the most prestigious schools in the city. It might have been in the very elitist environment he had access to, that he was first exposed to the illicit substance to which he eventually became addicted.Many saw him as a boy with a very bright future, but the result of his addiction was him becoming mentally challenged.Fortunate for him he has been able to access the six-month long rehabilitation programme offered by the Salvation Army and word is that he is well on his way to recovery.But he is certainly not the only teenager battling an addiction to marijuana. Among the clients that have been enrolled in the aforementioned programme are several other youths, including a 12-year-old. Currently there are clients between the ages of 14 and 62 accessing the programme.While most of the clients have found themselves addicted to marijuana, ProgrammeProgramme Manager of the Rehab Centre, Major Ulrick ThibaudManager for the past four years, Major Ulrick Thibaud disclosed that there are also some who are fighting cocaine and alcohol addictions. Some clients even battle multiple addictions.But according to him, marijuana is the most prevalent of addictions seen at the Centre. In fact, he intimated that many of the young people addicted to marijuana are convinced that it is not even an issue. However, their families are convinced otherwise, given the onslaught of irrational behaviour that has been linked to their substance abuse.“Although some of them (clients) become mentally challenged as a result of marijuana smoking, they still believe that it is not a problem,” Major Thibaud said during an interview.Given the devastating impact that marijuana can nurture, he is particularly concerned about the growing discourse, locally, regionally and internationally, relating to the legalization of marijuana.“I would never agree with something like that…although there is talk about medical marijuana. In terms of young people just taking marijuana to feel good about themselves, it is still an abuse problem for our generation.”As he shared his concerns, he alluded to cases where some youths become addicted to illicit substances merely from their weekend socialization activities.“They might go to parties on Friday or Saturday nights and they enjoy themselves drinking, and some overdo it, and alcohol is a gateway to drugs. When they are drunk, people could offer them anything and they will go with it,” Major Thibaud said.He moreover stressed his conviction that legalizing marijuana is “nothing but a bad move, because it can mean more young people’s lives will be in danger.”THE PRICE OF RECOVERYWhile the programme attracts a monthly fee of $50,000, there is another factor that often comes into play – stigmatization. According to the Programme Manager, many people in society see a person suffering from an addictionFrom left: Major Emmerson Cumberbatch, Commissioners Gerrit Marseille and Eva Marseille.as an outcast. He however asserted that addicts are not merely the “junkies” on the street, since there are many celebrities and others who have high statuses in societies across the world who have had the need to access drug rehabilitation programmes. He therefore underscored that “rehab is not for bad people, it is for people who make mistakes.”“Some people believe that the programme is for vagrants, it is not…we have lawyers coming to this programme, we have very educated people who have made this mistake and then they come to us and we help them.”Explaining the cost the rehabilitation programme attracts, Major Thibaud said that it caters to three meals a day for the client, remuneration for staffers and maintenance of the facility. The Rehab Programme also benefits from an annual subvention from Government amounting to $10 million.The subvention, according to him, is, among other things, used to help those addicts who can ill-afford to pay for access to the rehabilitation programme on their own. He however noted that there are some persons who are financially-able, who still try to access the programme at no cost. This, however, is shrugged upon, since aid is only afforded to those who genuinely cannot afford to meet the cost.A TYPICAL DAY IN REHABSpeaking specifically of the rehabilitation programme, Major Thibaud asserted that it is certainly not a vacation.Without giving precise details, he informed that patients are afforded treatment for their addiction(s) and are exposed to the services of expert drug counselors. The programme also benefits from the services of volunteers, including doctors and religious leaders.“It is a very busy programme. We keep you busy; it is not about relaxation,” he insisted as he shared a typical day’s agenda for the clients.Although they are mostly confined to the 6-7 Water Street facility, Major Thibaud noted that clients are exposed to a considerable number of activities to keep them engrossed.As early as 06:00 hours (6 am) clients are awakened to engage in exercise routines to ensure that they maintain physical fitness, and they are also assigned chores. In addition to basic educational sessions, the clients are exposed to daily interactive counselling sessions. Meals are served at precise times daily.The Rehab programme, which sees collaboration from the Ministries of Human Services, Home Affairs and Health, has over the years proven to be very successful, although there have been some instances when clients relapse, according to local Salvation Army Commander, Emmerson Cumberbatch. He admitted that there have been occasions when clients, who have not fully recovered, would seek after their addiction of choice soon after they are afforded their freedom.Strategic collaborationsFor this reason, Major Thibaud noted that the programme works in even closer collaboration with the Ministry of Health, since substance abuse is a health issue.“From time to time we have to take them to the hospital. Some of them have to get psychiatric attention…and so we have a great collaboration with the Ministry of Health,” he stated.He however noted that the Salvation Army has also been reaching out to the school system through the Ministry of Education. This sees counsellors of the programme visiting schools in order to educate students and even their teachers about the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse, with a view to encouraging them to refrain from its clutches.One of Guyana’s top performing schools, Queen’s College, has been among the regular targets of the Salvation Army/Education Ministry Drug Abuse sensitization programme.“Our aim is to let them know that they don’t have to turn to drugs to feel good about themselves. That is what a lot of young people believe, they have to do drugs to feel good or great about themselves; to feel nice they have to do drugs,” Major Thibaud emphasised.OVER A CENTURY OF SERVICEThe Rehab programme is one of the many ways that the Salvation Army has been offering its services in Guyana.“It is part of our Ministry, to help those who need help…we can’t solve people’s problem, but we can help them to minimize their problems,” said Major Thibaud of the work of the Salvation Army which is rooted in Christian teachings. He however asserted that there is no discrimination in terms of the services offered, since persons from other religious backgrounds can also access its services. In fact, he noted that most persons that have accessed the Rehab programme thus far are linked to religions outside of Christianity.Currently the organization is celebrating 120 years of existence in Guyana having been introduced here on April 24, 1895.At a press conference held on Friday at its Alexander Street, Georgetown headquarters, Commander Cumberbatch spoke of ongoing celebratory activities to commemorate the significant milestone.He was in the company of Territorial Commanders, Commissioner Gerrit Marseille and his wife Commissioner Eva Marseille, who are here to join the celebrations which are set to conclude today with a Thanksgiving Service and Recognition and Praise meeting in the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel. “With the limited resources that they have, they are doing quite a good job,” said Commissioner Gerrit Marseille,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, of the local operation. His wife, however, reflected that “we are never satisfied when we see the needs in Guyana and other countries; we are not satisfied…we always say this and better we’ll do.”The anniversary observances kicked off Thursday with a Civic Welcome, followed by a Youth Extravaganza on Friday at the Theatre Guild and a Fundraising Dinner and Open Air Meeting, also at the Pegasus Hotel, yesterday.The activities also included discussions which were intended to examine how the Salvation Army could expand and improve its services being offered in Guyana. Already under consideration is a Rehab facility to cater specifically to women addicted to alcohol and illicit substances.
