According to Mukta Puntambekar, deputy director of the Muktangan Deaddiction Centre, “In the eighties, when the scourge of brown sugar first raised its head, the government and media machinery went into overdrive to tell people about what it could do the body and mind. As a result, the number of drug addicts came down considerably in the nineties.”
“However, since 2000, there has been an increase in the number of drug users, most of whom are below 25 years of age. Hence the need to again undertake an awareness drive,” Puntambekar further said.
She stressed the need for parents to establish an open and frank dialogue with their children on drugs, instead of sweeping the issue under the carpet. “Parents are hesitant to talk about drugs, but that approach doesn ’t help,” she cautioned. She also asked them to watch out for the signs indicative of drug abuse – long periods of time spent in the toilet, an indifference to personal hygiene, disturbance in sleep patterns, a change of appetite, negligence of one ’s studies, lack of eye –contact during conversations, and even a change of friend circle.
Psychiatrist Suparna Telang underlined the need to dispel misconceptions about drug abuse glamourised by media, like films. “The images of an attractive protagonist resorting to drugs or alcohol when he/she can ’t deal with problems linger. And youngsters tend to think that drugs are the answer to problems: social, academic and familial,” she said.
She added that the high induced by drugs was very temporary. “And the awareness programme needs to focus on that fact. Also, instead of saying that something is ‘bad ’, it would be more effective to underline the after–effects of the high, like the damage to the central nervous system.”
Telang underlined the role of the government in dealing with de–addiction. “There is a limit to what private organisations and non–governmental organisations can achieve on their own. The government has a primary and major role in setting up deaddiction centres. In the West, government hospitals have out patients departments (OPDs) to deal with addiction–related issues.”
Psychiatrist Ulhas Luktuke said: “There is no doubt that instances of substance abuse are on the up. Stress levels have increased, and so has the accessibility to drugs.”
“While the deaddiction centre is the mainstay of the treatment, most centres also have their own support groups to help patients and their families cope with the situation. For instance, Pune also has a chapter of Narcotics Anonymous, a self–help–cum–support group for addicts, where addicts help each other through the process of recovery (see box 2),” Luktuke added.
Clinical psychologist Sandy Dias Andrade said that awareness programmes on drug abuse ought to be part of the high school curriculum. “This would not only include medical information, but also a free–wheeling discussion with the children.”
Telang highlighted the need to build a steady network of peer group counsellors within educational institutions. “Sharing problems with people of your own age group helps,” she added.
A Helping Hand for Recovering Addicts
Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Members meet regularly to talk about their experiences in recovery. More experienced members (known as sponsors) work individually with newer members. The core of the NA programme is the 12 Steps. These “steps” are a set of guidelines outlining a practical approach to recovery. By following these guidelines and working closely with other members, addicts learn to stop using drugs and face the challenges of daily living.
Recovery in NA is not a miracle cure that happens within a given period of time. It is a process, ongoing and personal.
Members make an individual decision to join and recover at their own pace. For more information, write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ASCPune, Post Box No: 149, Pune.
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Source: Times of India
