Drug users in the Philippines fight their addiction by building coffins

Record ID: 82886

  • Title: Drug users in the Philippines fight their addiction by building coffins
  • Date: 9th October 2016
  • Summary: OLONGAPO CITY, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF WORKSHOP RECOVERING DRUG USERS BUILDING WOODEN COFFINS SIGN READING (English/Filipino): "CASKET MAKING. FREE LIVELIHOOD SERVICES FOR DRUG REFORMIST" RECOVERING DRUG USERS BUILDING COFFINS RECOVERING DRUG USER HAMMERING NAIL ON WOOD RECOVERING DRUG USERS BUILDING WOODEN FRAME RECOVERING DRUG USER HAMMERING ON WOODEN FRAME (SOUNDBITE) (English) COFFIN MAKING PROGRAMME ORGANIZER, ELLEN DABU, SAYING: "If they did not change their former way of living, they might be the one using the caskets, but it's just a joke." RECOVERING DRUG USERS WORKING INSIDE WORKSHOP RECOVERING DRUG USER BUILDING COFFIN RECOVERING DRUG USER, TOLITS, PAINTING COFFIN TOLITS LOOKING ON PAINTED COFFIN FRAMES AND COVERS (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) RECOVERING DRUG USER, TOLITS, SAYING: "It's really possible that I might die if I don't change. That's why after I surrendered, I strive to change myself so that I don't end up dead and be placed inside the coffin I made." RECOVERING DRUG USER PAINTING COFFIN COFFIN COVER BEING PAINTED RECOVERING DRUG USER SAWING PLYWOOD IN FRONT OF FINISHED COFFIN RIZAL PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) INSTRUCTOR PAULO TRINIDAD TEACHING LAUGHTER YOGA TO RECOVERING DRUG USERS WHO ARE UNDERGOING REHABILITATION TRINIDAD LAUGHING WITH RECOVERING DRUG USERS TRINIDAD INSTRUCTING RECOVERING DRUG USERS TO STAMP FEET TOGETHER RECOVERING DRUG USERS LAUGHING AND STAMPING FEET/TRINIDAD PLAYING CYMBALS TRINIDAD PLAYING DRUMS IN FRONT OF RECOVERING DRUG USERS RECOVERING DRUG USER HOLDING HANDS NEAR FACE AND EXHALING (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAUGHTER YOGA INSTRUCTOR, PALO TRINIDAD, SAYING: "So what I do is when I talk to them I just have to expound on the benefits of laughter and then since it's very experiential, the approach is very experiential, once they've experienced it, once they've sensed that it's already happening, that's the time when I come in, I try to inject ideas, more exercises and it's good because they are, they follow the exercises." RECOVERING DRUG USERS HOLDING HANDS UP FINGERS WIGGLING RECOVERING DRUG USER SJUMPING WHILE HANDS ON AIR (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) RECOVERING DRUG USER, JEK, SAYING: "It's hard, it's really hard here in the centre, in this institute, but this was effective in lessening my sadness, my longing for my family. It's effective." VARIOUS OF RECOVERING DRUG USERS LAUGHING AND DANCING MANILA, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) CROWD INSIDE SKATE PARK SKATEBOARDERS JUMPING ON RAMPS SKATEBOARDERS WAITING IN LINE MAN PERFORMING ROLLER BLADE STUNTS ON HALF PIPE SKATEBOARDER JUMPING ON HALF PIPE SKATEBOARDERS INSIDE PARK (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) SKATEBOARD ENTHUSIAST, JHEYCO LAUS, SAYING: "Youth like us have more opportunity to stay out of drugs because our quality time can be spent inside the park. It's free and a way to get out of vices."
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2016 03:15
  • Keywords: drugs rehabilitation laughter yoga coffin carpentry skate park Rodrigo Duterte
  • Location: RIZAL PROVINCE/OLONGAPO CITY/MANILA, PHILIPPINES
  • City: RIZAL PROVINCE/OLONGAPO CITY/MANILA, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVA00153A8I85
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown on illegal drugs has spurred various groups to think up unorthodox ways to help drug users get clean.
    In Olongapo City, north of Manila, recovering drug users are being taught how to build coffins, which serves as a reminder of what may happen if they continue using drugs.
    The participants are taught carpentry skills for free and are paid to build and paint wooden coffins as part of the local government's livelihood and rehabilitation programme.
    Programme organiser Ellen Dabu says the activity serves as a good reminder to stay away from drugs while acquiring new skills.
    "If they did not change their former way of living, they might be the one using the caskets, but it's just a joke," she said.
    At least 400 self-confessed drug users have surrendered to Olongapo police since June and will be included in the coffin livelihood programme in the coming months.
    One man already taking part said the idea had given him an incentive to change his ways.
    "It's really possible that I might die if I don't change. That's why after I surrendered, I strive to change myself so that I don't end up dead and be placed inside the coffin I made," former drug user, Tolits, said.
    The coffin-making idea is not the only unconventional way authorities are trying to help people get clean.
    At a rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of Manila, a non-profit group is helping people laugh off their addiction.
    Recovering drug users outstretch their arms, dance and laugh as yoga instructor Paulo Trinidad lays down a beat with drums, cymbals and chimes.
    Laughter yoga helps to soothe body muscles and will make patients more open to express their emotions, but Trinidad says getting patients to do it is not easy.
    "It's so hard to convince the drug abusers, or the substance abusers, of this laughter therapy. So what I do is when I talk to them I just have to expound on the benefits of laughter and then since it's very experiential, the approach is very experiential, once they've experienced it, once they've sensed that it's already happening, that's the time when I come in, I try to inject ideas, more exercises and it's good because they are, they follow the exercises," says Trinidad, a laughter yoga teacher of six years.
    An addiction patient Jek, who started taking drugs when he was 12, says laughter yoga has made him less homesick.
    "It's hard, it's really hard here in the centre, in this institute, but this was effective in lessening my sadness, my longing for my family. It's effective," said the 27-year-old, who entered the centre eight months ago.
    A laughter yoga session lasts from 30 to 60 minutes and includes chanting, dancing along to drum and gong beats, stretching techniques and breathing exercises.
    Trinidad says laughing in calculated intervals helps the body release chemicals called dopamine which causes the brain to feel happy and make patients forget about their worries and addiction.
    Meanwhile in the capital Manila, the local government opened its largest public skate park on Friday (October 7) to help the youth stay away from drugs.
    The 1,800 square metre skate park was created to offer the youth other healthy activities, which includes a dance studio and theatre.
    One skateboard enthusiast says the park will help young people by being more than just a safe place to play.
    "Youth like us have more opportunity to stay out of drugs because our quality time can be spent inside the park. It's free and a way to get out of vices," says Jheyco Laus, a skateboarder.
    Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs has seen a surge of drug users surrendering to the police and enrolling in drug rehabilitation centres in the three months since he took office.
    The health ministry said over 700,000 users have surrendered and 70,000 of which require in-house rehabilitation.
    Duterte, who was swept to power with a single-issue campaign to wipe out crime and illegal drugs, has drawn criticisms from human rights groups and international community on his bloody campaign which has killed more than 3,000 people.
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