Treatment of People Affected by Addictions
Our medical treatments in Cuba include rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addictions.
Addiction rehabilitation treatments are offered in the Villa “El Cocal” and “El Quinqué” in Holguín, with personnel to deliver the program in Spanish or English. Other Villas are available in Santiago de Cuba (“Colibrí” and “El Indio”) and in Granma (“El Yarey”) but are mainly for the use of patients of governmental agreements. It is necessary to disclose if the addiction is to “heroin” as the treatment carries some additional precautions.
Focused on the detoxification and rehabilitation of people suffering from addictions, this program aimed at the total suppression of consumption and addictive practices, is developed in a natural environment, with inpatient care, and with the participation of a multidisciplinary and specialized medical team.
Its work scheme is based on the so-called “Therapeutic Community” approach, which distinguishes it, where patients share moods, feelings, and situations. The aim is to redirect the system of individual, family, and social responsibilities in stages, in order to achieve two main goals: abstinence and change in lifestyle.
The program includes two stages and requires the presence of a companion.
It has a minimum time of three months with a subsequent recycling period of one month, which can be repeated as many times as the client demands and at least in the first three years, leading to the recovery and improvement of self-esteem, social and family re-insertion, as well as physical development.
Patients are not accepted:
- Under 18 years of age
- With HIV or active hepatitis
- Without willingness to undergo treatment
- Schizophrenic or Severe Mental Retardation
The treatment lasts 97 days (three months and one week).
The companion is obligatory for the first week, after which he/she has to leave. The companion is given all the possibilities of communication and, in agreement with the center, visits to the patient can be coordinated. The program is in Spanish and for the English-speaking cases, it is provided in English and these patients also receive elementary Spanish classes so that they can communicate better. It is recommended to try to send groups of the same language, even if they are small groups of 3 or more people, for communication and other group therapies.