News and Update
Loneliness, Stress Driving Women to Hit the Bottle
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30 April 2010
By Mihir Tanksale
Pune, India
Abstinence,counselling,Art,Music Group Thearpy and Mediation can Help Overcome Addiction
Mukta Puntambekar, Project Direction, Muktangan De-Addiction Center
Changing lifestyle, stress, loneliness and frustration are taking their toll on women who are falling into alcohol and drug abuse.
Social worker Mukta Puntambekar told TOI that the dependence can be overcome through abstinence, counseling, group therapy, music and art therapy or meditation.
The Muktangan De–addiction Centre which she runs has a special ward named ‘Nishigandh’ where women deal with patients. “We started the ward in 2007 when more women patients began coming. The ward has 15 beds,” Puntambekar said. The addiction among women also begins early. “We have treated the women between 14 and 66 years of age,” she said.
Women doctors were addicted to medicines, Puntamberkar said. “We have treated three women doctors who would inject medicines as stress–busters,” she added. A fast–paced, independent life also made many spend weekends in pubs and bars. “Beer is like a soft drink and many opt for drugs to release stress,” she said.