International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

– Phoenix Recovery Project on a campaign to raise awareness

By Rennella Bourne

In observance of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is celebrated worldwide on June 26, local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Phoenix Recovery Project (PRP), has embarked on a campaign to raise awareness of the facility to rehabilitate persons who are victims of drug abuse.
According to the PRP, in light of the prevailing drug abuse problem plaguing our society, efforts are being made to raise awareness of the existence of rehabilitation centres across the country for those seeking help.
The PRP is the only rehabilitation residential centre that caters to both males and females in Guyana and is located in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
PRP Coordinator Clarence Young told Guyana Times that despite the International Day being observed, the NGO was unable to conduct any programmes that would deter drug abusers. “We had rigorous training with the staff, so unfortunately, we would not be keeping any programme to facilitate the day being observed; however, we are still keeping with the theme, “listen first” that we will apply here. We will use the theme sometime in the … week.”
He noted that the Education Ministry had reached out to the rehabilitation centre requesting its partnership at some schools to speak on the topic of drug abuse.
According to Young, the PRP opened its doors to the public in 2000, serving approximately 450 persons from then to the present. The PRP has a population of 22 residents – 6 females and 16 males.
Young related that the success rate over the years at the rehabilitation centre was between 40 and 60 per cent. He said, “We don’t necessarily view relapse as a failure, because some persons [who relapsed] have fixed themselves up and have become successful.”
The coordinator added that the clientele at the PRP usually fluctuated, but the centre remained optimistic towards rehabilitating many other drug abusers. After 17 years of being a drug addict, Sandra, who was known as “Granny” in the streets of Albouystown, is now one of the many recovered drug abusers PRP has produced.
For 17 years, Sandra felt the brunt of the effects of the most debilitating substances, which left many persons battered and unchanging.
Young told this publication that Sandra was doing excellently and has returned to normalcy. “She has been clean of drugs for eight years now and has become an employee of the same rehabilitation centre.”