“If I can be cured, so can you be”
is the motivational utterance of MS (name withheld), a 48 years old
recovered patient, during the peer counselling session at Akal Drug
De-addiction Centre, Cheema, in District Sangrur, Punjab. He is a happy
man now, baptized on the auspicious day of Baisakhi 2018. He gives the
credit of his recovery to his wife and other family members whose
relentless and undeterred efforts have borne fruits.
MS was born to a modest Sikh family of Malwa belt of Punjab. He took
up a government job in the year 1997 and got married in the same year.
He, like any other young and newly married men, was brimming with
enthusiasm to chase his many dreams. But soon after his marriage, the
peaceful atmosphere at home became disharmonious. The situation did not
improve; he felt disturbed and distressed. To soothe the nerves, he was
suggested a peg or two of liquor. After this he felt relieved. Gradually
he had to increase the quantity of liquor. Home atmosphere deteriorated
and he started absenting himself from duty, adding further to the
economic difficulties.
He was brought to Akal Drug De-addiction Centre and was treated with
medication, family therapy and spiritually augmented counseling. In the
centre, he was observed to be attending the spiritually oriented
schedule regularly and attentively. But he relapsed soon after getting
discharged. As such, his wife got separated from him leaving behind two
children. Ultimately, the couple got divorced.
For years, he was shuttling in and out of the Drug De-addiction
Centre without any significant improvement. To make the matter worse, he
would visit brothels and contracted Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STD). Somehow, the family got him married again. But the home
atmosphere worsened further. Yet, the family, especially his wife,
supported MS consistently and had faith in the institution. He was
admitted to the Centre for the treatment continuously for 28 times. But
every time he would relapse within a week or so. During the last
admission in late 2017, he showed signs of improvement. Perhaps, the
seedling of spirituality got sprouted. He got baptized and is now
totally abstinent and is not even on medicines. He visits the Centre for
peer counseling to the indoor patients and also guides other patients
of drug addiction to seek treatment.
English
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