Illegal drug activities produce negative impact to the society and this concern can be best addressed through effective and efficient implementation of rehabilitative programs such as wellness program to the women drug surrenderers in Negros Occidental. Thus, this study aimed to explore the life stories of women surrenderers on the rehabilitation program of Oplan Tokhang. Specifically, it sought to determine the different experiences of the women surrenderers before, during and after they surrendered. It also seeks to know the factors that influences the surrenderers in engaging into drugs and the contribution of the program to the quality of lives of the surrenderers and their family. This qualitative study utilized narrative inquiry. Informants were women drug surrenderers who underwent the wellness program of OplanTokhang in Negros Occidental. They were individually interviewed using validated and approved interview guide. The recorded interview was transcribed, read, and analyzed multiple times to determine the significant statements, formulated meanings, clusters and emergent themes based on the feelings and meanings of the informants. The study showed that twelve (12) emergent themes were identified. The following themes that were formulated are the following: before engaging to illegal drug activities were Hostaged by Broken Family; Chained into Poverty; The Product of Curiosity; during engagement to illegal drug activities were Financial Comfort through Drugs; Drug Abuse as Hindrance to Family Health; Social Predicament; and after engaging to illegal drug activities were Freedom Found in Reformation; A Family’s Gratefulness; Indebted to the Law of the Land; The Negativity of Social Status; Constructive Outlook for a Brighter Future; and A Loving Family is a Pillar for Change. The findings suggested the need in sufficient funding support from the LGUs and an institutionalized after care program. Increasing the grant of livelihood assistance or LGUs should provide short term courses and seek employment that would match the capabilities of the surrenderers. Community and family support are also vital to the recovery and reintegration of these surrenderers.
