Amritsar, July 13
Amid mushrooming of de-addiction centres across the state, the Bhatia Neuropsychiatric Hospital and De-addiction Centre has come up with a unique way of fighting addiction by involving those who have been successful in kicking the habit.
These former addicts are now acting as mentors for other addicts at the centre by counselling them and motivating them to shun the evil.
Having turned over a new leaf, the former patients have now dedicated theme selves to the centre. They visit the hospital almost everyday and talk to patients who are still fighting addiction. They share their experiences with the inmates thus raising their self-esteem’ and providing them with a support system:
The man who is playing a pivotal role in this initiative spent nearly 23 years of his life as an addict. After his recovery, Tejinder Walia has dedicated himself to the centre. He is responsible for starting the Wisdom Group, a group of recovered patients.
“When a person over-comes addiction and goes back into the world, he experiences isolation and loneliness because society is not willing to accept him. People still see him as an addict and hence hesitate to be in his company, which can increase chances of a relapse. This is what I went through after I overcame’ addiction. Hence, I suggest ed to Dr J.P.S. Bhatia that we should form the Wisdom Group,” says Walia.
The centre also organizes a meeting every Friday in which addicts as well as recovered patients participate. Group members and doctors deliver lectures to addicts about different facets of addiction and means to overcome it.
“The recovery plan at our centre has been made in such a way that the process of recovery becomes a celebration for patients and not something that they take up as a fight. The Friday meetings and counseling playa very crucial role in this process,” says Dr Bhatia.
A recent addition is the Hermitage Centre, which is managed by members of the Wisdom Group.
At Hermitage, various activities are organized for intonates, including yoga, meditation and counselling sessions. Recreational activities are also organized, such as dancing, singing, painting and pottery, besides talent hunt programmes.
“A person goes into addiction to get a high. At Hermitage, we are trying to give them an equally ‘strong’ alternative to addiction. We involve them in other activities so that chances of relapse are reduced,” says Nisha Chhabra, in-charge of Hermitage.
