By Blessing Odega
Relatives of persons undergoing rehabilitation for substance abuse disorders in Plateau have decried the high cost of treatment at private rehabilitation centres.
The victims’ families, who raised these concerns in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos, said the centres often charged between N300,000 and N365,000 monthly.
The relatives said the cost was placing a huge financial burden on families, particularly as patients were required to stay in the centres for between three and 12 months, depending on the severity of their condition.
Mrs Lucy Pam, a relative to one of the substance abuse patient said that the family had been making significant financial sacrifices to keep their loved one in rehabilitation, adding that the cost was difficult to sustain alongside other household responsibilities.
Pam, appealed to government and relevant organisations to provide more affordable rehabilitation services for persons affected by substance abuse disorders.
Similarly, Mr Yemi Oladeji, another relative said the financial burden could discourage some families from seeking professional help or cause them to discontinue treatment before patients had fully recovered.
Oladeji, called for increased government intervention and support for rehabilitation centres to make treatment accessible to families who could not afford private facilities.
Mrs Ijeoma Laluwoye, a clinical psychologist, however, advised patients and their relatives not to abandon treatment because of the cost.
Laluwoye said discontinuing treatment prematurely could undermine the progress already made by patients and increase the risk of relapse.
She advised families facing financial difficulties to discuss their challenges with treatment providers and explore credible alternatives offering more affordable or subsidised services.
“Patients should not abandon treatment because of the cost. families should discuss their financial challenges with treatment providers and explore available options.
“Where a particular facility is unaffordable, they can seek information about other credible facilities offering more affordable or subsidised services,” she said.
The psychologist explained that the duration of rehabilitation could vary from one patient to another, depending on factors such as the substance involved, duration of substance use, severity of the condition and the patient’s response to treatment.
She said rehabilitation was a gradual process requiring consistency, professional supervision and support from family members.
Laluwoye also stressed the importance of family involvement/good family social support in the rehabilitation process, urging relatives to encourage patients and avoid stigmatising them.
According to her, stigma could discourage persons affected by substance abuse disorders from seeking professional help or continuing with treatment.
She called for greater investment in affordable rehabilitation services to enable more persons affected by substance abuse disorders to access appropriate care.
Laluwoye also advocated stronger collaboration among families, health professionals, government agencies and rehabilitation centres to improve treatment and recovery outcomes.
She urged families to seek professional intervention early whenever they noticed signs of substance abuse, saying early intervention could help prevent the condition from becoming more difficult and costly to manage.
NAN reports that relatives appealed to government and other stakeholders to strengthen public rehabilitation services and provide support for families struggling to meet the cost of private treatment.(NAN)
Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore
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