RBAF rehab programme keeps offenders in check

NOT even the military is safe from the scourge of drugs.

But the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), through their Counselling Centre, has managed to run a highly successful rehabilitation programme.

RBAF representatives revealed yesterday to delegates of the 17th IFNGO Asean NGOs Workshop, that the programme has achieved an impressive recovery rate of nearly 80 per cent.

The RBAF Counselling Centre ran the system since its establishment in 2002, giving offenders a chance to regain their self-esteem and keep their jobs, an option not available to first offenders in the military prior to 2002.

RBAF Commandant of Support Services, Colonel Pg Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham Pg Haji Mohamad, committee chairman of RBAF's Narcotics Control Centre, said that before 2002, military personnel who were caught using drugs were immediately discharged and handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau.

However, he added, this extreme form of action was only adding more burden on society as it put unemployed drug abusers onto the streets.

Through the programme, first offenders are now given counselling and rehabilitation, which involves the full cooperation of the person's family members right from the beginning.

As an initiative to attack the problem at its roots, close family members are interviewed and enlisted in monitoring and supervising the person's rehabilitation and counselling sessions, before the 'patient' is sent on an intensive two-month self restitution course.

This is aimed at motivating the person to keep clean as family members are involved and required to constantly remind them of the possibility of the person losing their jobs if caught a second time.

During the rehabilitation process, the person's work privileges will be held back until a certain time when the counsellors are convinced of their recovery.

This is then followed up with a six-month monitoring process with random urine checks held before, during and after the probationary period.

Offenders who are caught during this time will immediately be discharged and handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau.

The programme dubbed "Program Kaunselling Sepadu" shows promising results as members of the IFNGO workshop lauded the centre on its diligent after-care methods, increased levels of support and acceptance of the offenders without question.

A United States delegate, Melody M Heaps, president of the Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, Inc said the centre's approach is quite impressive and should be exemplified as it indicates that one of the recommendations of last year's IFNGO workshop is proven to be successful in curbing the possibility of relapse of drug abusers.

The recommendation was to encourage greater involvement of families and increased follow up of after care.

The Brunei Times