I met with my few exclusive friends today and the meeting was extra wonderful. It did not only gave us avenue to update us with eachother's life but it was more of an opportunity to really keep in touch---e,otionally and spiritually. It was a meeting worth to be remembered because a close friend (who is specially close to me and appeared so well)--disclosed to me her addiction battle. I felt so sad when she told me about it cause i knew--during her inner struggles--while i was busy helping other people---she was struggling alone. The guilt feeling was so strong (at first) but when i pondered on the real situation--I felt that i should stop the "blame-me" game ive been feeling for my friend. You see--I knew--she chose to be in that situation and the act to seek help should start from her not from anybody else. Part of myself assured me that her strength to battle her own addiction is a proof of her magnificient inner strength. To tell her addiction to a friend is a plus factor too! Her substance abuse battle stripped her of her dignity, and her capacity to hope. But telling me (her friend) about it--was the eventful start of her healing. It’s never easy to get help for drug abuse. Checking into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center means admitting you have a problem you can’t solve on your own. That sort of honesty is hard to come by. On my personal reflections, the battle with drug addiction is clearly illustrated in song under the album: A Nine Inch Nails which features a song "My Self Destruct" with the lyrics: "I am the needle in your vein and I control you, I am the high you can't sustain and I control you." Another song, "Hurt," explores drugs as a means of escape with lyrics like, "The needle tears a hole, the old familiar sting, try to kill it all away." This song clearly shows that again, no addict beats drug and alcohol abuse without professional substance abuse treatment. That’s simply not the way recovery works.
That meeting though made me really think hard about what i can do--not just for my friend but for the community as a whole---in my wellness advocacy, I should somehow do something for people to undertsand the true dynamics of drug addiction so that maybe people can take action in their own corner of the globe. CYWTAC, as a wellness center --should work with communities and those confroted with this problem throughout the country particlarly on how to zero in on ways to reduce substance abuse at home and the community.
This FEB, 27-28, 2009--the Children and YOuth Wellness Technical and Advocacy Center (CYWTAC) will sponsor a REGIONAL SEMINAR entitled: DRUG ABUSE, CRIME AND HOME at the audio visual hall of divine word college of legazpi. We hope that with this seminar, participants will gain better understanding of drugs in the society--their use and misuse, its relationship to crimes and the role of home in the issue of drug abuse. This course will be particularly suitable for people who are encountering drug related problems and issues in their institutions related to substance abuse and to those who mainly wishes to learn how to respond to this particular social issue. This regional seminar is open to School Guidance Counselor, School Psychologists, NGO Workers, Teachers, Law Enforces, Local Government Officials, Social Workers, Educators and interested parents.
An affordable registration fee of (P1,500) will be collected to cover the snacks, kits and certificate for the 2 days seminar....and as token of gratitude--THE FIRST 100 PAX TO REGISTER will get a very special hard bound book entitled: DrUG ABUSE, CRIME AND HOME written by the training facilitator of the seminar, DR. HARRY LORENZO.Dr. Lorenzo is a family therapist and a practicing psychologist. He is a professional lecturer at the graduate school of the Polytechnic University (PUP) and the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC). He is currently the president of the Association of Government Psychologists of the Philippines, Inc (AGPPI) and the former president of the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association. He is the founding president of the Sports Psychologists and Physical Educators of the Philippines and presently, the sport psychologist of the shooting team of the Philippine Army. He is a certified psychologist of the Professional Certification Board (USA). He is likewise the president of the Trinity Training Center and Psychological Services and the former Dean of Students Affairs of the Trinity College, Quezon City.
Lorenzo served in the Armed Forces of the Philippines as Philippine Constabulary officer with a rank of colonel and as a police officer in the Philippine National Police with a rank of senior superintendent. He taught at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and was instrumental in the establishment of the PMA Guidance and counseling office in 1983. He joined the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in 1994 to 1996 as special assistant to the DILG secretary. He wrote, edited and published books in public safety, criminology, psychology and policing. He is the editor and publisher of the books-Practicing Criminologists and editor of the PC/INP and PNP journals. He lectured and presented papers on various topics in different countries like US, England, France, Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and in various universities like Cambridge, University of East London, University of Southern California.
Dr. Loremzo is included in the Baron’s Who’s Who of the World and Asia Pacific Rim. His membership included the International Council of Psychologists, American Counseling Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police and International Law Enforcement Planners. He is likewise the president of the Rotary Club of Manila San Miguel.
To beat drug abuse for good is to rediscover life as we used to know it, and ourselves as we used to be. Lets help eachother. For interested parties, you can inquire in any of the numbers below: 09178651901 or 09215883900. Limited slots are available so your early confirmation is adviced.
