Nearly a month after it opened, the Bohol Center for Drug Education and Counseling (CDEC) remains without patients as no drug addict has sought treatment and counseling at the government-run institution, said a health official.

According to CDEC chief Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, there were no drug dependents who availed of the services of counseling professionals and health personnel of the institution.

He noted that they only received inquiries from parents of drug dependents after the CDEC opened on October 12.

Lopez, Capitol’s executive assistant on health and hospital modernization, is optimistic that drug dependents would start to arrive at the center next week after the long weekend break due to the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.

The CDEC which is located at the Oak Brook Building beside the St. Joseph’s Cathedral was established by the provincial government to cater to drug dependents who are not in immediate need for admission at a drug rehabilitation center.

It was intended to also serve as a model for other centers in towns across Bohol which will assess drug dependents and provide intervention measures.

Bohol has among the highest number of drug surrenderers in the region at over 32,000 with majority of the figure being self-confessed drug users. (Rey Tutas)

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