INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNO V A T ION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |V o lume XIII Issue IV April 2026

Pathways to Redemption: Lived Experiences of Drug Offenders in

Rehab

Jimver O. Ocampo, Rheychold J. Daymiel

College of Criminal Justice Education, Zamboanga Del Norte, Philippines

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2026.1304000013

Received: 31 March 2026; Accepted: 07 April 2026; Published: 23 April 2026

ABSTRACT

This study explored the lived experiences of drug offenders who underwent rehabilitation programs in selected

areas of Mindanao, Philippines. It aimed to describe their rehabilitation experiences, examine the challenges

they encountered during and after treatment, and generate insights to inform more responsive recovery

interventions in the regional context. The study employed a qualitative research design using a Husserlian

transcendental phenomenological approach. Data were gathered through in-depth, semistructured interviews

with participants who had completed formal rehabilitation programs, selected using snowball sampling.

Thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework, as cited by Daymiel (2025),

involving the extraction of significant statements, the formulation of meanings, and the clustering of statements

into themes. Five emergent themes were identified: (1) From Compulsion to Self-Realization, (2) Relational-

Spiritual Reorientation, (3) Sustained Recovery and Accountability, (4) Inner Transformation Through

Psychological Struggle, and (5) Post-Rehabilitation Social Reintegration and Identity Reconstruction. Findings

revealed that rehabilitation initially elicited resistance and emotional distress but gradually fostered acceptance,

self-awareness, and personal responsibility. Family separation and spiritual reflection emerged as powerful

catalysts for change, while recovery was understood as a lifelong process requiring discipline beyond

institutional care. Despite internal transformation, reintegration remained difficult due to stigma, employment

barriers, and social mistrust. The study concludes that effective rehabilitation in Mindanao requires holistic,

community-based systems that integrate psychological care, family involvement, spiritual support, and

structured aftercare to sustain long-term recovery and reintegration.

Keywords: drug rehabilitation, lived experiences, recovery, reintegration, stigma.

INTRODUCTION

Substance abuse continued to be a complex social, psychological, and public health concern that affects not only

individuals but also families, communities, and institutions. For drug offenders, rehabilitation was often

experienced not as a voluntary choice but as a mandated process shaped by legal, familial, and institutional

pressures. While rehabilitation programs were designed to promote recovery and reintegration, studies suggested

that compulsory entry into treatment was frequently accompanied by resistance, emotional distress, and

perceptions of punishment, particularly during the early stages of confinement (Stevens et al., 2019).

Understanding the lived experiences of drug offenders was essential in capturing how they perceive

rehabilitation, recovery, and personal transformation. Qualitative inquiry enables deeper exploration of the

emotional, psychological, relational, and spiritual dimensions of recovery, which were often overlooked in

outcome-focused or quantitative studies (Creswell & Poth, 2018). By examining personal narratives, this study

sought to illuminate how drug offenders make sense of coercion, suffering, discipline, and eventual acceptance

throughout their rehabilitation journey.

Beyond individual experiences, drug offenders encounter significant challenges during and after rehabilitation

that influence the sustainability of recovery. Emotional struggles, family separation, social stigma, employment

barriers, and exposure to relapse risks remain persistent obstacles to successful reintegration. Research indicates

that recovery was shaped not only by personal effort but also by structural and social factors, such as limited

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNO V A T ION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |V o lume XIII Issue IV April 2026

access to services, stigma, and negative societal responses that impede treatment engagement and outcomes

(Farhoudian et al., 2022). Social stigma toward people with substance use disorders continues to hinder help-

seeking and reduce treatment outcomes, illustrating how social relationships and community perceptions shape

recovery trajectories (El Hayek et al., 2024). Perceived stigma also negatively impacts employment for

individuals in recovery, limiting reintegration opportunities and underscoring the need to address both social and

economic barriers in recovery planning (Han et al., 2022).

Given the complex and long-term nature of recovery from substance use, there was increasing recognition that

effective rehabilitation must extend beyond institutional treatment and adopt holistic, context-responsive

approaches. Contemporary recovery-oriented frameworks emphasized that sustained recovery requires attention

not only to abstinence but also to emotional healing, family involvement, spiritual or meaning-based grounding,

social reintegration, and structured aftercare. Empirical research indicated that interventions addressing these

multiple dimensions were more effective in promoting long-term sobriety and reducing relapse and recidivism

compared to narrowly clinical or punitive models (Best & Laudet, 2019; Kelly & Bergman, 2016). Recent

studies further highlighted that recovery was a dynamic, socially embedded process shaped by ongoing support

systems and community engagement rather than by time-limited institutional care. Recovery outcomes were

strengthened when programs integrate post-treatment support, family engagement, and opportunities for social

participation, enabling individuals to rebuild identity, purpose, and social roles in everyday contexts (Best et al.,

2018; Neale et al., 2016). These findings underscored the need for interventions that were responsive to the lived

realities of individuals in recovery and adaptable to their social and cultural environments.

Grounded in the lived experiences and identified challenges of drug offenders, the present study sought to

propose an intervention program that moved beyond treatment completion by strengthening emotional

resilience, reinforcing family and community support, and facilitating meaningful social reintegration. By

treating recovery as a holistic, sustained process, the proposed intervention aimed to improve rehabilitation

outcomes and support long-term sobriety and desistance.

Objectives

1.

2.

To look into the lived experiences of informants in rehab

Determine the challenges encountered during rehabilitation

METHODOLOGY

This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach, grounded in the philosophical work of Edmund

Husserl, to explore and describe the lived experiences (Lebenswelt) of drug offenders who had undergone

rehabilitation. Descriptive phenomenology sought to understand how individuals consciously experienced a

phenomenon by attending to how meaning was constituted in lived experience, prior to theoretical interpretation

or causal explanation (Giorgi et al., 2017). Accordingly, the primary concern of this approach was not

explanation or prediction, but the careful description of the essential structures of experience as they were lived

by participants.

Central to Husserlian phenomenology was the principle of intentionality, which posited that consciousness is

always directed toward something, an object, event, or experience, through which meaning is formed (Zahavi,

2019). In this study, intentionality provided a conceptual lens for understanding how participants made sense of

rehabilitation, suffering, transformation, and reintegration through their conscious reflections and narratives. By

focusing on participants’ intentional acts of meaning-making, the study illuminated how rehabilitation was

experienced not merely as a programmatic intervention, but as a personally and socially situated process.

Contemporary methodological scholarship affirmed that descriptive phenomenology was particularly well suited

to health, rehabilitation, and justice-related research where the aim was to illuminate subjective meanings and

lived realities rather than to impose external theoretical frameworks (Neubauer et al., 2019).

Consistent with phenomenological inquiry, the study sought to remain faithful to participants’ perspectives

through the practice of epoché, or bracketing, whereby the researcher consciously acknowledged and set aside

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNO V A T ION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |V o lume XIII Issue IV April 2026

prior assumptions, personal experiences, and preconceived understandings of the phenomenon. This process was

undertaken to minimize interpretive bias and to allow meanings to emerge directly from participants’

descriptions of their lived experiences. As emphasized in phenomenological methodology, bracketing functioned

as a critical mechanism for maintaining openness to participants’ accounts and for ensuring that the analysis

remained grounded in the data rather than shaped by the researcher’s theoretical positioning (Tuffour, 2017).

This disciplined stance enhanced descriptive rigor and supported the emergence of the phenomenon’s essence

from the data itself. Moreover, contemporary phenomenological scholars emphasized that bracketing was an

ongoing, reflexive process rather than a one-time procedure, requiring sustained attentiveness throughout data

collection and analysis (Vagle, 2018).

This approach was appropriate because the study aimed to describe the essence of rehabilitation experiences as

lived by drug offenders, rather than to measure variables or test hypotheses. Accordingly, the study relied on

qualitative, non-numerical data gathered through open-ended, indepth interviews, which enabled participants to

articulate their experiences, emotions, and reflections in their own words. The conversational interview format

facilitated rich, detailed descriptions of meaning, psychological struggle, relational change, and identity

reconstruction, which were central to descriptive phenomenological inquiry (Giorgi et al., 2017).

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

This section presents the analysis of data gathered through in-depth interviews with drug offenders who served

as the study's informants. The data analysis in the study followed the thematic analysis framework proposed by

Braun and Clarke (cited in Daymiel, 2025). The presentation is sequenced according to the statement of the

problem, with the essence and implications discussed at the end.

In this descriptive phenomenological study, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis that emphasizes the

participants’ lived experiences. The researcher carefully engaged in the process of horizontalization, treating

every statement made by the informants during the in-depth interviews as of equal value. All relevant data were

then recorded and transcribed verbatim from the audio recordings to ensure accuracy and authenticity. Through

this approach, a detailed record of the

participants’ words and emotions was preserved, reflecting the depth and essence of their experiences as drug

offenders undergone rehabilitation.

The next phase involved identifying significant statements from the transcripts that directly related to the

phenomenon of their lived experiences and challenges in the rehabilitation process. These statements were

carefully reviewed to ensure they captured the lived meaning of each experience. Each significant statement was

then clustered into meaningful units, grouped according to shared experiences and recurring patterns. Through

imaginative variation, the researcher sought to uncover the underlying meanings and essences of these shared

experiences. This process involved analyzing the data from multiple perspectives, examining personal, familial,

community, and institutional dimensions, and identifying the interplay between internal struggles and external

barriers. The resulting themes capture both the experiences and challenges during their rehabilitation.

PROPOSED COMMUNITY-BASED AFTERCARE FRAMEWORK

Pathways To Redemption (Ptr): A Holistic Reintegration and Recovery Support Program for Drug

Offenders

Rationale of the Program

The findings of this study revealed that while drug offenders experienced significant psychological, emotional,

and spiritual transformation during rehabilitation, major challenges persisted after program completion.

Although participants gradually developed self-awareness, acceptance, discipline, and personal responsibility,

they continued to struggle with stigma, guilt, employment barriers, relapse risks, and limited long-term support.

These realities highlight a gap between institutional rehabilitation and sustainable community reintegration.

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNO V A T ION (IJRSI)

ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |V o lume XIII Issue IV April 2026

The proposed intervention program addresses this gap by extending structured support beyond rehabilitation

centers into the community. It focuses on relapse prevention, psychosocial and traumainformed care, family

reintegration, livelihood development, and values formation. By strengthening accountability, social

connectedness, and economic stability, the program aims to promote sustained recovery and reduce recidivism.

The intervention aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports SDG 3 (Good Health and

Well-Being) by promoting mental health and relapse prevention; SDG 4 (Quality Education) through life-skills

and behavioral education; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by enhancing employability and

livelihood opportunities; SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by addressing stigma and social exclusion; and SDG

16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by strengthening restorative and reintegration-centered approaches.

Overall, the program translates participants' lived experiences into a structured, recovery-oriented framework

that promotes holistic, person-centered, and sustainable rehabilitation.

Program Objectives:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Enhance emotional and psychological resilience among drug offenders during and after rehabilitation.

Strengthen family involvement as a central motivating force for recovery and accountability.

Integrate spiritual and values-based support as a foundation for inner transformation.

Promote lifelong recovery through self-discipline, surrender, and daily commitment.

Facilitate social reintegration by addressing stigma, employment barriers, and peer influence.

Support sustained behavioral change through accountability, mentorship, and community engagement.

Expected Outcomes:

● Reduced relapse rates among rehabilitated drug offenders

● Improved emotional well-being and self-regulation

● Strengthened family and community support systems

● Increased employability and social reintegration

● Sustained recovery through lifelong accountability and discipline

Target Beneficiaries:

●

Drug offenders currently undergoing rehabilitation

Drug offenders who have completed rehabilitation programs

Families of drug offenders

Community-based rehabilitation partners and support groups

Budgetary Requirement (Estimated Annual Pilot Implementation – 50 Beneficiaries)

Personnel and Professional Services

•

Program Coordinator – ₱240,000

Psychosocial Facilitator (Part-time) – ₱180,000

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•

Spiritual/Values Facilitator Honorarium – ₱60,000

Peer Mentor Allowance – ₱120,000 Subtotal: ₱600,000

Training and Workshop Expenses

•

Learning materials and printing – ₱80,000

Workshop logistics and supplies – ₱150,000 Subtotal: ₱230,000

Livelihood and Reintegration Support

•

Skills training partnerships – ₱200,000

Starter livelihood assistance fund – ₱250,000 Subtotal: ₱450,000

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring tools and documentation – ₱90,000

Administrative and Operational Costs

•

Transportation assistance – ₱100,000

Communication and coordination – ₱60,000

Contingency (5%) – ₱76,500

Subtotal: ₱236,500

Total Estimated Annual Budget: ₱1,606,500

This projected budget reflects a community-based, scalable intervention model prioritizing sustainability, relapse

prevention, and long-term reintegration support. Proposed Funding Agencies and Institutional Partners

Government Agencies

•

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Department of Health (DOH)

Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB)

Local Government Units (LGUs)

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Justice Sector

Parole and Probation Administration (PPA)

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)

International and Development Organizations

•

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

World Health Organization (WHO)

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

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Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations

•

Community-based rehabilitation groups

Faith-based recovery ministries

Private foundations supporting reintegration initiatives

PTR Implementation Program

Component

Basis

Strategies

Regular

individual and group emotional

psychosocial

Expected

Outcome

Improved

Implementing Agencies and

Stakeholders

Department of Social Welfare

and

Development

(DSWD)

Psychological

and

Emotional

Support

Participants

experienced

emotional

distress,



regulation,

reduced

debriefing sessions

Enhancement

loneliness,



Structured

distress,

and

shame,

and

anger, emotional

enhanced

expression activities coping

psychological

(journaling, guided

mechanisms.

strain

due to reflection)

strict discipline



Trauma-

and

family informed counseling

separation.

referrals

when

necessary

Family

Family emerged



Scheduled

Strengthened

Department of Social Welfare

Reconnection

and

Responsibility

Program

as a primary family dialogue and family

motivation for reconciliation relationships,

restored

and increased

and

Development

trust, (DSWD)

change,

responsibility,

sessions

 Family

and

sustained education workshops motivation for Families and peer recovery

recovery.

on

recovery

Parental and

addiction

and sobriety.

groups



spousal involvement

in postrehabilitation

planning

Spiritual and

Values-Based

Recovery

Spiritual

Enhanced moral Faith-based

and

community

➢

Optional

faithbased reflection

sessions respecting

religious diversity

awakening and

faith-centered

transformation

played a critical

role in self-

grounding,

organizations

inner peace, and

strengthened

Support

sense

of

purpose.

realization and

meaning-

making.



Values

formation workshops

focused on humility,

surrender, and self-

awareness



Collaboration

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with

faithbased

organizations

and

spiritual mentors

Peer

and

Relapse

Prevention

Mechanisms

Support Managing peer

influence and mentorship

environmental successfully



Peer

Strengthened

by recovery

Rehabilitation

Centers and

Aftercare

identity,

reduced

exposure

high-risk

environments,

triggers

critical

was recovering

in individuals

Programs

to

preventing

relapse.



group

Support

participation and

accountability

circles

and

peer support.

improved



Relapse-

prevention education

focusing on trigger

recognition

Post-

Participants



Livelihood

Improved

Local

Rehabilitation

Reintegration

and

faced

employment

barriers,

stigma, and employability

employability,

restored social Units (LGUs)

to legitimacy, and

Government

skills training

 Referral

and

Social Trust

Rebuilding

mistrust

rehabilitation.

after job placement and smoother

Parole and

Probation

Administration

(PPA)

livelihood

programs

reintegration

into society.



Community

awareness

initiatives to reduce

stigma

Monitoring and Evaluation

Indicator

Monitoring Tool

Frequency

Emotional Stability

Family Engagement

Self-assessment and counselor report

Attendance and feedback forms

Monthly

Quarterly

Relapse Incident

Case tracking and peer reports

Follow-up interviews

Ongoing

Employment

Engagement

or

Livelihood

Semi-annual

Program satisfaction

Participant evaluation forms

End of cycle

Experiences of Informants

The interview responses revealed the informants' lived experiences of rehabilitation. Five emerging themes were

discovered in this study: compulsion to self-realization, relational and spiritual reorientation, enduring recovery,

psychological struggle, and identity reintegration.

The following themes are discussed comprehensively below, with supporting narratives and theoretical

interpretations that explain the participants' lived realities.

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Compulsion to Self-Realization. This theme talks about the first and most challenging part of the rehabilitation

process. Informants go to treatment against their will, they deal with strict rules and perceived unfairness, and

they went through a lot of emotional pain because they were alone and separated from their families.

Informant 1 emphasized that she, back then, was compelled to undergo rehabilitation, and she stated that:

“Dili unta ko gusto na, ma rehab ko pero ang jail, ang gobyerno man ana. Kay dili man gyud ko parehab, musukol

man gyud ko sa amoang warden. Nga dili gyud ko sir, bahala na magkainunsa, ikaladkad ko ninyo… Makaingon

gyud ko sir ang rehab dili gyud angay sa mga tarog utok kay mabuang gyud ka sir.” I don't want to go to rehab,

but the jail, the government, is there. Because I will never go to rehab, I will definitely resist our warden. I really

don't, sir, it's up to you, you can drag me out. I can definitely say, sir, rehab is not suitable for people with mental

disorders because you will really go crazy, sir (P1:SS1).

Being compelled is one reason that made them undergo rehabilitation, and not their own decision. Another

informant supported the claim:

“Una sa tanan, during my treatment sa drug facility sa ozamis, at first pagsulod nako, dili gyud to akoang

kagustuhan, it was my uyuan nga usa ka atty, iya ko gi advisan nga musulod sa rehab, at first muingon nga dili

man ko buang nganong musulod man kog rehab kay mao na akong perception sauna nga ang rehab about sa

mga buang.” First of all, during my treatment at the drug facility in Ozamiz, when I first entered, it wasn't really

my wish, it was my uncle, an attorney, he advised me to go to rehab, at first I said I wasn't crazy, why would I

go to rehab because that was my perception that rehab was about crazy people (P8:SS1).

Being in rehab was also not an option for another informant, but due to his parents' preference, he could not do

anything but submit. The informant said:

“Dili unta ko mosugot na mag-parehab ko pero wala gyud koy mahimo, akong ginikanan may mao ang nag-

parehab nako. Wala koy mahimmo., Karon pako ka-realize akong gi-angkon nga wala koy gahum batok sa

druga.” I shouldn't have agreed to go to rehab, but I really can't do anything; my parents are the ones who put

me in rehab. Now I realized and I am admitting that I have no power over drugs (P9:SS3).

This suggests that most informants originally perceived rehabilitation as compulsive and psychologically

distressing, with placement often determined by family or authorities rather than by the individuals themselves,

leading to resistance, denial, and internal conflict. Previous research on compelled or legally mandated treatment

has documented similar emotional responses: loss of control and autonomy has been linked to perceptions of

rehabilitation as punitive rather than therapeutic (Araujo et al., 2022), and individuals subjected to court-ordered

treatment report psychological distress and conflict arising from coercion (Silcox et al., 2024). Additionally,

studies comparing involuntary and voluntary admissions show that involuntary patients often exhibit lower

motivation and resistance at the outset of treatment, reflecting initial angry or conflicted attitudes toward their

placement (Opsal et al., 2019).

Although initially experienced as restrictive, structured routines, enforced sobriety, and institutional discipline

gradually reshaped how informants understood themselves. Over time, participants recognized the extent of their

dependency and loss of control, leading them to reinterpret rehabilitation not as punishment but as a necessary

pathway to survival and change. Contemporary desistance research confirms that sustained behavioral

transformation depends on identity reconstruction and the internalization of responsibility rather than external

control alone. Studies show that long-term change occurs when individuals adopt new self-concepts and align

daily behavior with a redefined, pro-social identity (Paternoster & Bushway, 2016; Weaver, 2019). Consistent

with this perspective, transformation in the present study emerged when informants moved from resistance to

introspection and acceptance, demonstrating that rehabilitation was a gradual process grounded in reflection,

emotional struggle, and growing self-awareness rather than immediate compliance.

Relational and Spiritual Reorientation. This theme explains that true transformation occurred internally, driven

by relationships and spirituality. Family longing, parental responsibility, and fear of losing loved ones motivate

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deep reflection. Simultaneously, spiritual awakening reframes suffering and relapse as meaningful rather than

purely negative.

One informant emphasized that he found a relationship with God and faith inspired him to change. He said:

“Ang ako gyung gihatagan sa credit sa akong transformation ang Ginoo kay ultimately siya nag allow, sa akong

relapse daghan gihapon kog nakat-onan. Sa akong edad ro, mas taas kog experience sa akong kauban nga nag

recover kay daghan kog relapse. Kanang Ginoo, through pain man gud siya motubang, kalisod, problema, kay

ug wala pod dili pod ta katawag niya. Mao ng relapse nako, gitawag gyud kos Ginoo, mao ng karon, tigulang

naman ko wala nakoy laing pangandoy sa kinabuhi, wala napod koy gana. Kadtong karaang ako, wala na gyud,

na transform na gyud. Kung sa bible from sinner, na transform mao nay gitawag na born again.” I give the Lord

credit for my transformation because ultimately he allowed my relapse, I still learned a lot. At my age, I have

more experience than my friends who have recovered because I relapsed a lot. That

Lord, he helps through pain, hardship, problems, because we don't have to call him. That's why I relapsed, I

really called him Lord, that's why now, I'm old, and I don't have any other dreams in life, I don't feel like it

anymore. That old me, I'm really gone, I've been transformed. In the Bible, being transformed from a sinner is

called being born again (P7:SS6).

Spiritual belief has a major impact on the changes experienced by the drug offender while in rehabilitation.

Informant shared the experience of awakening when he surrendered himself to the presence of the God.

Informant shared:

“Didto ko sa ginoo nag ampo… mura kog naka himata… Ang pag bag-o sa lifestyle is disiplina sa imong

kaugalingon.” I was there with the Lord praying... I felt like I had woken up… Changing your lifestyle is self-

discipline (P10:SS12).

In addition, the presence of family members appeared to elicit positive emotional responses, including happiness,

attentiveness, and calmness, which, in turn, facilitated emotional regulation and receptiveness to the

rehabilitation process. Informant describes the significant emotional impact of family visits during rehabilitation,

emphasizing how these interactions influenced his motivation and perspective on recovery. Informant stated:

“Pag abot sa panahon sir nga pwede nami dalawon nila, makita gyud nimo sa tawo sir nga malipayon siya.

Matngon na gyud ug pag bag-o, makasabot na, kalmado na siya.” When the time comes that they can visit us,

you can really see that the person is happy. He is very attentive and when he is new, he understands, he is calm

(P2:SS3).

Family emerged as a central motivational force in the recovery process, strengthening accountability and

reinforcing commitment to change. Recent empirical studies indicate that family involvement in addiction

recovery enhances treatment engagement, reduces relapse risk, and supports long-term recovery by providing

emotional support, monitoring, and a sense of belonging (Kelly et al., 2017). Alongside relational change,

spiritual awakening played a significant role in the recovery journey. Participants described prayer, faith-based

counseling, and spiritual reflection as mechanisms that reshaped their understanding of suffering, relapse, and

loss. Rather than interpreting hardship as personal failure, informants reframed struggles as opportunities for

growth and moral realignment. This aligns with recent research demonstrating that spirituality functions as a

source of resilience, adaptive coping, and meaning, facilitating psychological stability and sustained recovery

among individuals with substance use disorders (Grim & Grim, 2019).

Furthermore, the lived experience of temptation during rehabilitation further illustrates the role of spirituality in

maintaining commitment to recovery. Informant shared:

“Temptasyon gyud sir. Kanang hagiton ta nga manglayas.., Dili lang ka usa ka beses niabot ang temptasyon…

Mao na nga pila ka beses sila nag plano pero kung naa ang Ginoo dili ka ka dalidali ug desisyon.” It's really a

temptation, sir. When they invite you to "run away" the temptation didn't come just once... That is why they have

planned several times, but when the Lord is with you, you can't make a hasty decision (P2:SS8).

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Collectively, these findings illustrate that recovery extends beyond the cessation of substance use and involves

a process of relational restoration and spiritual realignment. The convergence of family support and spiritual

purpose provided the emotional, moral, and social foundation for lasting transformation. This underscores the

importance of rehabilitation and reintegration programs that intentionally strengthen family engagement and

provide space for spiritual reflection, treating these dimensions as core components of sustained recovery rather

than peripheral supports.

Enduring Recovery. This theme shows that the people interviewed know recovery does not end with

rehabilitation. The institution's initial imposition of discipline subsequently evolved into selfregulation.

Recovery was redefined as a daily, renewable promise that could only be kept through giving up, having a plan,

and being responsible. Informant emphasized that their recovery is a lifetime journey that needs discipline.

Informant explained:

“Ang recovery namo is lifetime, dili kay sa rehab 6 months ra, paghahuman kay pwede nako mubalik, kay human

naman ko. Dili ang recovery namo is a lifetime hangtud gani sa among kamatayon gani Dal-on namo.

Kinahanglang limpyo ug luwas mi sa druga, dili lang siya anang naa ray time, naa ray year, dili lang. Lifetime

gyud ni ang amoa mao gyud ni ang amoang course. Mao gyud ni ang among kurso hangtud sa among pagkawala

kinahanglan nga maka-recover mi.” Okay, our recovery is a lifetime, not just 6 months of rehab, after finishing

it because I can go back, because I'm done. Our recovery is a lifetime, even until our death. We have to be clean

and drug-free, it's not just a matter of time, it's a matter of a year, not just that. This is our lifetime, this is our

course. This is our course until our loss, we have to recover (P9:SS8).

Echoing this concern, another informant supported this claim that recovery from addiction is a lifetime journey.

Informant shared:

“It’s a lifetime journey ang addiction, ang akong recovery about drugs and alcohol is a lifetime journey, so

dakong tabang pagsulod nako sa rehab.” Addiction is a lifetime journey; my recovery from drugs and alcohol is

a lifetime journey, so it was a big help for me to enter rehab (P8:SS2).

In addition, another informant shared that even though they had already gone through rehabilitation, their

addiction is not gone, instead they recognized it as a lifetime disease that merely sleeping meaning relapse

remains possible if vigilance and self-discipline are not maintained. A Participant shared:

“Kaming mga nag recover nga addict, lifetime. Kung baga sa sakit pa na, naa ra gihapon among sakit, natulog

lang., dili na mawala namo, cravings, hinuon dili man ko palainom, panalagsa raman ko moinom, gana gana ra.

Ultimo tan-awg TV. Dili na mawala, tawo raman ko, among sakit natulog lang. Kung baga sa ako ra gyud mismo

kung gusto ba ko mobalik ug suyop/inom, naa ra nako kay na free man ko. Dili pareha sa rehab na controlled

environment.” We recovering addicts, lifetime. If it's like the disease, our disease is still there, just sleep., we

won't get rid of it, cravings, but I don't drink, I rarely drink, just when I feel like it. It won't go away, I'm only

human, our disease is just sleeping. If it's like me, if I want to go back to smoking/drinking, it's up to me because

I'm free. It's not like rehab, which is a controlled environment (P9:SS12).

The results strongly suggest that informants viewed recovery as a lifelong journey that goes far beyond the time

spent in official rehabilitation. Informants did not see rehabilitation as a permanent fix; instead, they saw it as

an important first step toward lasting change. This comprehension aligns with modern addiction frameworks

that regard drug use disorder as a persistent and recurrent problem necessitating prolonged self-management and

continuous assistance rather than finite treatment (Volkow et al., 2016).

Psychological Struggle. This theme shows that recovery was hard on the body, mind, and emotions. Being apart

from family made people feel lonely, unhappy, ashamed, and scared. Internal character traits, such as pride, rage,

and ego, exacerbated emotional pain. The informant said that the strict rules and punishments at the facility

made rehabilitation very hard and limiting. These conditions sometimes made them feel like they were being

treated unfairly and put a lot of mental stress on them, which made the rehabilitation period feel mentally

draining. One participant shared:

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“Ang hagit gyud nako sir kay ilang balaod nga maskin wala kay sala, tagaan kag sala.., Pabuthon bitaw ka sir,

kana. Nahagit gyud ko sa rehab. Mao gani ng isa sa dili nako balikan, maskin dili ka buang, mabuang gyud ka...

Naa gyuy panahon nga nag huna-huna mi, molayas ta.,Agwantahon nalang gyud ang 6 months. Grabi!” My

challenge is that their laws, even if you are not wrong, will make you feel like you made a mistake. I was really

challenged to go to rehab. That's one of the things I will not go back to; even if you are not crazy, you will go

crazy. There was a time when we thought, “let's run away”. Let's just endure the 6 months. It's terrible (P1:SS12).

Emotional struggle and isolation were significant challenges during the rehabilitation process, one informant

shared the loneliness and emotional distress experienced during the early stage of rehabilitation which also led

to question his situation.

“Kamingaw, kay una nako didtong abot wala gyud pansinay, tapad tang duha way istoryahay? Mura tag dili

kaila. Bawal mag istorya. Moikyas na gyud unta ko, tungod sa kamingaw. Kasab-an pa gyud ka bisan wala kay

sala. Mao gyud nay sa emotional, mao gyud nay imong bation. Mingaw gyud. Mingaw, kalagot, ana ba, nganong

nakasulod ko ani. Karon kasuk-an ko nga wala koy sala.. It feels lonely, because when I first got there, there was

no one there, we were next to each other, no conversation? It's like we don't know each other. We're not allowed

to talk. I should have just run away, because I was lonely. You get scolded even though you did nothing. That's

exactly how you feel emotionally; that's exactly how I feel. I feel lonely, I'm angry, why did I come here? Now

I'm angry that it's not my fault. (P5:SS9).

Deep emotional confusion and distress during the early stages of rehabilitation was experienced. Feelings of

loneliness and inner conflict were prominent. Informant shared the struggle to understand the situation and

questioned why they had ended up in rehabilitation. One informant noted:

“O, emotional. Mao to sir akong giingon sa emotional kana bitawng di ka kasabot sa imong kaugalingon,

nganong nakasulod ka adto, nganong ang tawo, kalibutan, unfair nako. Nganong na in-ani ko. Mao gyud nay

nabatian sa akong kasing-kasing, ug huna-huna… Kamingaw, dili gyud mawala ang kamingaw. Una, kontra

akong pamilya kay nganong nakasud kog ing-ana. Gipasod ko nila sa rehabilitation/reformation. Di pod ko

kasabot sa una gyud… Wala gyud ko kasabot sa akong kinabuhi… Mao to sir.” Oh, emotional. That's what I

mean by emotional, I mean I don't understand myself, why did I get into this, why are people, the world, unfair

to me. Why did I get into this? Loneliness will never go away. First, my family is against why I got into this.

They sent me to rehabilitation/reformation. I didn't understand at first either… I really didn't understand my life

(P6:SS8).

The findings indicate that psychological and emotional suffering was not merely a byproduct of rehabilitation

but a central mechanism through which inner transformation occurred. Consistent with recovery literature, such

emotional dysregulation is widely recognized as a core challenge in substance use recovery, often heightening

vulnerability during early treatment phases (GonzálezRoz et al., 2024). Similar to recovery capital and identity

transformation frameworks, adversity served as a turning point that facilitated openness to new self-concepts

and values when supported by structure, reflection, and guidance (Best & Laudet, 2019).

Identity Reintegration. This theme highlights the social dimension of recovery, emphasizing how participants

reconstructed their identities as they reintegrated into their families, communities, and social roles after

rehabilitation. Informants learned that sustaining sobriety extended beyond abstinence and required deliberate

social adjustments, including distancing from former drugusing peers, enduring social stigma, and rebuilding

trust in public spaces, particularly in employment contexts.

Informant described the difficulty of regaining social legitimacy after rehabilitation, particularly when seeking

employment. Despite demonstrating behavioral change, still encountered repeated rejection due to his drug-

related record, which undermined his confidence and reinforced feelings of discouragement. One informant

shared:

“Lisod na kaayo e apply kung naay record about sa drugs… lisod na gyud mosalig ang tawo nimo… kinahanglan

e build ang trust nila sa imo.” It is very difficult to apply for a job when you have a drug record… people find it

hard to trust you… You really have to rebuild their trust (P6:SS13).

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This experience reflects how social stigma and mistrust functioned as barriers to reintegration of identity,

requiring patience, endurance, and sustained self-discipline. Avoiding former drug-using peers also emerged as

a crucial strategy for maintaining sobriety. Informant emphasized intentional social distancing as a protective

measure against relapse. One informant noted:

“Kung makakita kog amiga nga nakakuan ug droga, molikay nalang gyud.” If I see friends who are using drugs,

I just stay away (P5: SS8).

Family responsibility further shaped participants’reintegrated identities. Informants expressed a strong desire to

reclaim positive roles, particularly as parents, and to prevent intergenerational patterns of substance use.

Reflecting on past experiences, the informant recognized the importance of personal responsibility and

emphasized that genuine change begins from within. Another informant noted:

“Dili ko gusto nga isa sa akong anak musunod sa akong yapak… naa ra gyud sa kaugalingon ang kabag-ohan.”

I don’t want any of my children to follow my footsteps…change truly comes from oneself (P1: SS10).

Nugent & Schinkel (2016) emphasized that sustained behavioral change depends on both individual agency and

social affirmation through opportunities for recognition, trust, and legitimate social roles. Reintegration required

both personal commitment and opportunities for social acceptance, underscoring that recovery extends beyond

individual transformation to include community and structural validation (Best et al., 2016). In an empirical

research, Kelly et al. (2017) indicate that peer networks significantly shape recovery trajectories, with continued

exposure to substance-using peers increasing vulnerability to relapse.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions are offered:

This study concludes that drug offenders experience rehabilitation as a deeply transformative process shaped by

spiritual awakening, structured intervention, and identity reconstruction. Participants’ narratives reveal that

spiritual reflection played a decisive role in reshaping their perceptions of addiction, responsibility, and hope,

allowing them to reinterpret their past suffering as a catalyst for moral renewal and personal growth. Through

engagement in spiritually grounded practices, many participants developed humility, accountability, and a

renewed sense of purpose, consistent with attribution perspectives that emphasize internal meaning-making in

behavioral change.

Beyond its spiritual dimension, rehabilitation emerges as a critical and humane corrective mechanism that

provides emotional stabilization, discipline, social support, and opportunities for self-reflection. Participants

consistently described the rehabilitative environment as a turning point that disrupted destructive patterns and

replaced them with structured routines and prosocial values, highlighting the importance of recovery-oriented

approaches within criminal justice systems. Most importantly, rehabilitation facilitated enduring personal

transformation: participants report strengthened family relationships, improved emotional regulation,

heightened self-awareness, and a sustained commitment to lawful and meaningful living. Recovery was

understood not as a temporary outcome but as a lifelong responsibility requiring continuous self-discipline and

vigilance. Collectively, the lived experiences affirm that when rehabilitation integrates spiritual grounding,

social support, and structured guidance, it becomes a powerful pathway to redemption, enabling individuals to

reconstruct their identities and reenter society as responsible and productive members.

Ethical Consideration

Institutional ethics procedures were adhered to in this investigation. Before data collection, ethical approval was

obtained from the research ethics committee. Following an explanation of the study's objectives and the

voluntary nature of their involvement, informed consent was acquired from the participants. Anonymity and

confidentiality were upheld during the entire investigation.

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