Residential Drug Rehabilitation Programme

Q: HOW LONG DOES ONE HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE BEING GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT AND BEFORE BEING ADMITTED TO KSM?
A: An appointment with an agency community worker is carried out as soon as possible depending on the length of the waiting list. Date of admission for rehabilitation will also depend on the individuals' physical, social and/or emotional needs, such as the need for detoxification if the individual is on any mind-altering substance and the state of preparation and motivation of the individual to enter a rehabilitation programme.

Q: WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION IS INVOLVED BEFORE ENTERING KSM?
A: The individual is encouraged and expected to meet his/her community worker on a regular basis in order to settle any urgent issues that require attention before entering into the programme and foresee to possible family logistic needs.

Q: HOW DOES ONE SPEND HIS/HER DAY AT THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMME?
A: Once in the therapeutic community, the resident has to follow a particular daily structure designed to enable behaviour modification. This will consist of work related to the running of the house, group psychotherapy, individual therapy, positive recreational activities, and the acquisition of new skills, both practical and theoretical.

Q: HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAMME?
A: The programme is structured in five phases: Merhba, Formazzjoni, Responsabilit, Re-Entry and After-Care. It lasts approximately eighteen months in total.

Q: CAN THE RESIDENT RECEIVE VISITORS AND PHONE CALLS WHILE AT KSM? WILL SHE/HE BE ABLE TO GO OUT?
A: Visits, phone calls and outings are restricted to those stipulated by the structure of the programme itself. Once the resident reaches the Re-Entry Phase, however, s/he will be expected to start looking for work and will be spending a substantial amount of time in the week at his/her own home.

Q: DOES ONE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE STAY AT KSM?
A: No, the stay at the programme is free of charge. However, each resident will be expected to finance their own personal needs, such as toiletries, clothing and cigarettes. However, foreigners residing in Malta need to have been paying tax and NI contributions for 12 consecutive months to benefit from this service. Otherwise, a nominal fee applies.

Q: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PROGRAMME IS FINISHED?
A: By the time a resident has completed the programme, s/he would have been assisted in resolving past intra personal issues, increasing their self awareness so as to prevent relapse and developing positive values that enable them to re-integrate into society. Once the resident finishes his/her residential phase, s/he will move into the After Care phase, during which time s/he will maintain regular contact with the community worker. This will assist the person in the transition from the programme into his/her own community. Additionally, towards the end of the programme, the resident will also be assisted in finding suitable employment and healthy accommodation, if needs be.