Narcotics Anonymous a hope for drug addicts
Narcotics Anonymous holds over 180 meetings weekly
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-09-05 05:03 GMT
Hyderabad: “Drugs had such a strong hold on me that even when I was working in a neonatal care unit, I could work only after there were drugs in my system. I didn’t mean to harm the children but it had become impossible for me,” says Dr Ashish, a medical practitioner from the city. He is a recovering drug addict and a member of Society of Indian Regional Service Narcotics Anonymous (SIRSCONA), India’s chapter of Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
Narcotics Anonymous in India is 28 years old and has over 185 recovery meetings weekly. There are three meetings held at the Hyderabad chapter of Narcotics Anonymous every week at two locations, usually in public places like schools, churches, libraries, community halls etc. “I underwent three treatment procedures for de-addiction. There was guilt in me, but no support system,” shares Dr Ashish, adding that the driving point for him to be a part of Narcotics Anonymous was “when people who speak of being far more addicted than me can be clean (from drugs) for years, why can’t I?”
Mr Vardhan from Chennai shares a similar story. “I was a national-level football player, but I sacrificed everything for drugs. I joined NA Bengaluru in 1992 first, but for a couple of days I would be clean, and then go back to drugs again. But in 1995, when day-to-day living was becoming a problem, I started attending the meetings religiously.”
A fellowship of NA doesn’t cost a person anything as there are no membership fees, nor do they use medicines for treatment. NA only expects “honesty, willingness, open-mindedness and hope” from its members. “We rely on mutual support and sharing of experiences. I had no money in my pocket when I attended the first meet. I was given tea and a hug and I was asked to return even if I was on drugs. That helped,” said Mr Benji, a recovering addict from Bengaluru.
“NA is a non-religious institution and we don’t accept funds from anyone. It is just one addict helping the other to get over addiction,” added Mr Amitabh who is a recovering addict from New Delhi.
30 per cent of drug addicts below 30 years:
The Narcotics Anonymous (NA) has around 8000 recovering and recovered addicts as members in its chapters in over 60 cities in India. Around 40 per cent of the recovering members who attend NA meetings have their own businesses, 30 per cent are employed and around 10 per cent are students. Nearly 30 per cent of the addicts who visit the meetings fall in the age group of 20-30 years.
Although started in 1999, the group hasn’t gained much ground in Hyderabad yet and there are only around 35 members at present. “In Delhi, the police stations have posters with contact numbers of the NA helpline. We have understood from our surveys that over 70 per cent of people who visit the meetings have been referred by hospitals and other institutions,” said Mr Amitabh, a recovering addict from Delhi.