Since the administration of Mayor Enrique Cresto, through the Directorate of Policies of the Social Strengthening Center under the Secretariat of Health, a team of professionals works as part of the Municipal Device for Addressing Addictive Behaviors and Problematic Consumption.
The objective of this interdisciplinary team is to work on the prevention of problematic consumption and addictive behaviors through personalized attention for all those who need support or information on this subject. The treatment consists of individual, family, and multi-family therapies, as well as therapeutic workshops carried out by the area's professionals.
Cesar, 63, is a true example of perseverance. He was able to leave addictions behind and rebuild his lifestyle. “The truth is that I am very happy. It has been a year and five months since I started this treatment at this clinic, and today I am finishing a cycle, a cycle of recovery, learning, adaptation, and being able to understand this disease that strikes us all, all equally,” said the patient who received his discharge.
“I never thought this could happen to me, and today I am living it. It is a palpable reality. I am satisfied with what I did, satisfied with the recovery. I put in a lot of commitment, I was able to understand others, and in some way recover my family. I had a lot of support from my children, my wife fundamentally, and all the professionals at this center who accompanied me,” he added later.
Also, Cesar highlighted that “the truth is that it was a process that you cannot do alone in any way; it is an accompaniment where this Strengthening Center comes into play, which I want to emphasize, that many people might not know about, but if you come here, someone will listen to you and will guide you so that you can be better in some way,” he emphasized.
At the same time, he thanked “the Mayor for providing the tools so that the professionals can work. Obviously, there are rules that one has to adapt to in some way, but it is possible. I fundamentally feel at peace, I feel liberated, and that also leads me to reflect on the outside world where there are many people in the same situation or worse, and we have to try to help them in some way,” he said.
“Prevention in this case is fundamental, and it must be discussed with children of all ages, in schools; we must continue to emphasize this problem. Since I have been here in treatment, four children have been discharged. Today I met a companion who came, whom we invited, and she is doing well. So that means things are yielding results. You have to be very committed,” he expressed.
WORD FROM THE DIRECTORS OF THE STRENGTHENING CENTER
In this sense, licensed professional Rubén Mendoza, coordinator of the Program for Prevention and Assistance to Addictions, confirmed the new discharge of a patient who was in treatment for addictions and who had the permanent support of the Social Strengthening Center.
In this regard, the professional pointed out that “this is the culmination of a whole cycle of work that we have faced with the entire team for a long time. A group that is composed of psychologists, operators, and workshop leaders who, over more than a year and a half, managed to reach the end of the treatment that the patient underwent,” and said that “The central objective when they arrive here is for them to have a different lifestyle. What we propose is a change of habits to a healthy one.”
For his part, the director of the Social Strengthening Center, Gustavo Canova, stated that this work is “highly positive.” Every year, two or three discharges are given. So, it is the fruit of conscious work done by the team. A family is formed here, the kids form a family, and it is a friendship that they carry for life. That is accompanied by the family of each one of them. That is why we always say that the issue of addictions must be talked about,” he argued.
Regarding Cesar's case, he stated that “today we have the joy of giving him a discharge, which we call a temporary discharge. Because the effect of relapse can always be present, and it is very difficult to overcome it alone. That is where family support must be present. This is the fruit of work done conscientiously, because we are working with human beings who want to change their lifestyle,” he highlighted.
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It is important to highlight that the municipality has a telephone line for guidance and support regarding problematic consumption and addictive behaviors. It is a free service, with reservation and confidentiality regarding calls.
Experience shows that this service becomes the gateway to effective therapeutic treatments, which begin with calls from family members of people suffering from this problem. For more information, interested parties can go to Sarmiento 356 (between Juan José Paso and Sarmiento) where the Social Strengthening Center is currently located, or call 3454228576.