Gang member turns psychologist

Jean-Pierre’s case is far from being unique. In Callao, the harbour zone adjacent to Lima where he grew up, 20% of the population lives in poverty. Callao is also the transit area for drugs exports. No wonder school-going youth are very much at risk there.

According to a 2007 study conducted by Devida*, almost 600,000 secondary school pupils run mental or physical health risks due to abuse of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. The more than 62,000 pupils who take illegal drugs are also running the same risks.

Jean-Pierre volunteered for and successfully attended an eleven-month therapy in a specialized open centre (CADES-Callao). This way, he could stay in touch with his family and finish his studies at the college. CADES-Callao is one of nineteen pilot project centres that the Belgian-Peruvian programme selected for the national prevention plan in four provinces. Such a centre is special because it functions openly and imposes no obligations. It relies on the willingness of patients to take their rehabilitation in their own hands. It offers a tough therapy, and even though it does not guarantee success to the majority, it still can reduce the risk of relapse once the patient has gone through rehabilitation.

Through the Belgian-Peruvian Programme for drug abuse prevention and for the rehabilitation of drug addicts, these centres have received organisational and material support. The Programme has also offered varied training possibilities for officials and social workers. And it enables the Peruvian government to analyse the problems at the national scale through its Peruvian Drugs Observatory, in order to draw up an effective national prevention and rehabilitation plan.

Now, Jean-Pierre has regained his self-respect and wants to specialize in the issue of addiction through his studies. That way and thanks to his personal experience, in future he will be able to help people suffering from addiction. Indeed, he is aware of the importance of good coaching and he knows it takes courage and persistence to escape the negative spiral.

Facts and stats

• The Programme for drug abuse prevention and for the rehabilitation of drug addicts (2007-2011) is funded by Belgium and Peru (2,612,500 euros).
• In 2010, annual drugs-related costs in Peru reached 444 million dollars (312 million euros), or 0.2% of GDP. 
• Besides the technical and organisational support of the mental healthcare centres, the Programme sets up prevention activities in schools and universities, runs campaigns to raise awareness, and provides technical and material support to centres for offenders. 
• Between 2004 and 2010, CADES-Callao helped 3,100 people with diagnosis and orientation, provided 6,500 people with preventive measures, and treated 483 and rehabilitated 30 patients.
• The Programme for drug abuse prevention and for the rehabilitation of drug addicts (2007-2011) made it possible to hire and train 13 professionals of the mental healthcare sector, namely 10 psychologists, 2 psychiatrist and 1 social worker.
   

* _{Devida: National commission for development and a drugs-free life}

• Peru
• Health care
• Decentralisation