by ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 08 May: Addiction and alcoholism have always been and will remain diseases, the battle against which, as much at the societal level as at the level of the individual, will remain a continuing fight, something which even recovering addicts and alcoholics accept by counting how long they have remained clean and sober and never claiming sobriety as a permanent state.
Addicts and alcoholics, even the recovering ones, are considered tainted by the society which prefers to remain ignorant, making the mainstreaming of recovering addict even more difficult and also contributing substantially to the high number of relapses. Discharged addicts and alcoholics, one must bear in mind, are emotionally vulnerable and hence susceptible to relapse.
Despite efforts of several social organizations working in this field to keep the relapse rate to a minimum, easy availability of alcohol and substances of abuse within the State also lead many back to the rehabilitation centres, sometimes within a few days of being discharged!
Like a former addict puts it, “What is there even after treatment? The stigma of having been an addict remains throughout our lives. We are never accepted as a part of the mainstream society and are looked down upon.”
It may be informed that the detoxification and rehabilitation period for an addict at a rehab is three to six months during which the addicts have to work on a prescribed programme that takes a long time during which they have to follow a routine which can go up to 144 days.
“For many addicts who have already completed the treatment process of five months at a rehab, going back there again and following the same programme takes away another five months of their most productive years,” points out Raju Subba, Project Coordinator, Freedom Detoxification Centre.
Speaking to NOW! today, he informed that keeping these factors in mind, Freedom Detoxification Centre (FDC) for Addicts and Alcoholics at Upper Burtuk has started a detoxification centre that concentrates on treating and detoxifying relapses.
The concept of establishing a short-stay rehabilitation centre was conceived by the Project Director, Hem Kumar Pandey, a resident to Upper Burtuk, who has supported this project along with Hope Foundation since there are many relapsed individuals who do not need to spend such a long time in rehabs once again.
“These patients just need a short period to understand the situation they are in and our treatment process, which is just 25 to 30 days, is enough to get the priorities in order for them again. Instead of being admitted in a rehab for another 144 days, these addicts now have the facility to go to a short-stay home and in the process save valuable time to get back into mainstream society once again.”
Project Coordinator, Raju Subba informs that the 15-bedded centre, since January 2013, has already treated and discharged 12 patients and is presently housing 5 inpatients at the rehab in Upper Burtuk. It may also be informed that Raju Subba who had worked at ‘Jagriti’ Rehab for the past 8 years has a total in-house staff of 5 recovering addicts who are working in different capacities such as councilors, male nurses and wardens at the centre.
What is unique about Freedom Detoxification Centre is that during the 25 days of treatment here, the patients are taken out to movies and outings so that they remain connected with the mainstream society. This free and cordial atmosphere between the clients and the administration is now proving to have a positive outcome since all the 12 patients discharged from here are still clean.
At the rehab, patients are provided meat twice a week along with a diet menu that is strictly monitored by a doctor who visits the centre twice a week. Patients have the option to choose between vegetarian and non-veg meals depending on their requirement in the three meals that they are provided each day.
Patients are strictly monitored and the morning session starts at 6:30 am and lights are put-out by 10 pm. In between there are sessions on meditation, input classes and yoga therapy. The patients also have access to television, newspapers and actually remain in touch with the world making it is easy for them to fit in after being discharged from the centre.
“A homely environment is what we have created here at FDC which we feel is the best way to treat a patient suffering from the disease of alcohol and addiction. The fees here for 25 days is Rs.6000 which includes various extracurricular activities as well. However if a patients requires more medical treatment in a hospital then the families will have to pay for the medical charges.
So, if you feel that you or a person known to you have a similar problem and need help then contacting 9593371879 will definitely change your lives for the better.
GANGTOK, 08 May: Addiction and alcoholism have always been and will remain diseases, the battle against which, as much at the societal level as at the level of the individual, will remain a continuing fight, something which even recovering addicts and alcoholics accept by counting how long they have remained clean and sober and never claiming sobriety as a permanent state.
Addicts and alcoholics, even the recovering ones, are considered tainted by the society which prefers to remain ignorant, making the mainstreaming of recovering addict even more difficult and also contributing substantially to the high number of relapses. Discharged addicts and alcoholics, one must bear in mind, are emotionally vulnerable and hence susceptible to relapse.
Despite efforts of several social organizations working in this field to keep the relapse rate to a minimum, easy availability of alcohol and substances of abuse within the State also lead many back to the rehabilitation centres, sometimes within a few days of being discharged!
Like a former addict puts it, “What is there even after treatment? The stigma of having been an addict remains throughout our lives. We are never accepted as a part of the mainstream society and are looked down upon.”
It may be informed that the detoxification and rehabilitation period for an addict at a rehab is three to six months during which the addicts have to work on a prescribed programme that takes a long time during which they have to follow a routine which can go up to 144 days.
“For many addicts who have already completed the treatment process of five months at a rehab, going back there again and following the same programme takes away another five months of their most productive years,” points out Raju Subba, Project Coordinator, Freedom Detoxification Centre.
Speaking to NOW! today, he informed that keeping these factors in mind, Freedom Detoxification Centre (FDC) for Addicts and Alcoholics at Upper Burtuk has started a detoxification centre that concentrates on treating and detoxifying relapses.
The concept of establishing a short-stay rehabilitation centre was conceived by the Project Director, Hem Kumar Pandey, a resident to Upper Burtuk, who has supported this project along with Hope Foundation since there are many relapsed individuals who do not need to spend such a long time in rehabs once again.
“These patients just need a short period to understand the situation they are in and our treatment process, which is just 25 to 30 days, is enough to get the priorities in order for them again. Instead of being admitted in a rehab for another 144 days, these addicts now have the facility to go to a short-stay home and in the process save valuable time to get back into mainstream society once again.”
Project Coordinator, Raju Subba informs that the 15-bedded centre, since January 2013, has already treated and discharged 12 patients and is presently housing 5 inpatients at the rehab in Upper Burtuk. It may also be informed that Raju Subba who had worked at ‘Jagriti’ Rehab for the past 8 years has a total in-house staff of 5 recovering addicts who are working in different capacities such as councilors, male nurses and wardens at the centre.
What is unique about Freedom Detoxification Centre is that during the 25 days of treatment here, the patients are taken out to movies and outings so that they remain connected with the mainstream society. This free and cordial atmosphere between the clients and the administration is now proving to have a positive outcome since all the 12 patients discharged from here are still clean.
At the rehab, patients are provided meat twice a week along with a diet menu that is strictly monitored by a doctor who visits the centre twice a week. Patients have the option to choose between vegetarian and non-veg meals depending on their requirement in the three meals that they are provided each day.
Patients are strictly monitored and the morning session starts at 6:30 am and lights are put-out by 10 pm. In between there are sessions on meditation, input classes and yoga therapy. The patients also have access to television, newspapers and actually remain in touch with the world making it is easy for them to fit in after being discharged from the centre.
“A homely environment is what we have created here at FDC which we feel is the best way to treat a patient suffering from the disease of alcohol and addiction. The fees here for 25 days is Rs.6000 which includes various extracurricular activities as well. However if a patients requires more medical treatment in a hospital then the families will have to pay for the medical charges.
So, if you feel that you or a person known to you have a similar problem and need help then contacting 9593371879 will definitely change your lives for the better.
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