BACKGROUND

Drug addiction is a global reality which has affected the normalcy and has stagnated the growth of almost every country. India also has an acute problem with addiction / alcoholism. Presently it is estimate that there are more than 10 crore individuals in the country, who at some point in their lives, have used or are still using intoxicants. Apart from alcohol, cannabis, heroin, and pharmaceutical drugs are most frequently abused in India. Cannabis products, often called charas, bhang, or ganja, are abused throughout the country.

A staggering 1.58 crore children and youth between the age of 10 – 17 years are addicted to substances as per a recent Government report presented in December 2022. A research conducted in New Delhi in 2019 – 2020, amongst school children showed that 10% of students from Class VIII – XII were addicted to drugs. Mumbai has also been affected by this menace.

We might ask ourselves, “How did this happen?”

Cannabis in the form of hashish, ganga and bhang have been consumed by a section of people in the country for a long time. These substances have a connection to spiritual deities and were used by sadhus and other religious individuals. However, with the advent of the hippie age and the influx of foreign tourists, college students started experimenting and subsequently got addicted to these substances. In addition other hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, meth, hallucinogens, pharmaceutical drugs, etc., have been on the rise. The very fabric of society is threatened and at risk. With the rise in drug abuse the crime rate has also indicated an upward trend as these individuals have had to resort to illegal activities to support their addiction.

What do we do?

We have no control over the supply of drugs which are easily available. In spite of the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies in the country, illicit drugs still find their way to the streets of our cities. So do we just sit back and helplessly watch the horrendous destruction of our society and in turn our very lives? NO! We may not be able to stop the influx of drugs, but we can make efforts to reduce the demand for the same. In other words we need to spread awareness about the hazardous reality of drug abuse amongst the high-risk groups, namely, our youth, and rehabilitate the people who have fallen prey to addiction to different substances.

Manokamna Foundation is a rehabilitation centre with a difference. Out treatment module is structured to provide quality recovery to the patients that come to us for treatment. Our team consists of recovering addicts / alcoholics who have considerable time in recovery (3 years to 32 years), and have been living quality lives. Recovery for us is not just abstinence from drugs but a profound personality change. Addiction is a personality disorder and hence we need to change our thinking, attitudes and in turn our action to enjoy long-term recovery.

In addiction we plan to conduct awareness programs in schools, colleges, hospitals, etc. and network with other related organizations / agencies to reduce the demand for drugs. 

To be aware is to be alive. So let us work together and strive to reduce, if not eradicate this menace which is slowly destroying our nation.