The Support Group Route to Rehab
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/The-Support-Group-Route-to-Rehab/349636/
RICHA BHATIA Posted online: Sunday , August 17, 2008 at 11:06:38Updated: Sunday , August 17, 2008 at 11:06:38
Suneel Vatsyayan has introduced peer-based community therapy in de-addiction centres
On an ordinary day, Mukesh Narang, a 36-year-old drug addict, would not have woken up at 5.30 a.m. to do household chores. But at Nai Kiran, a de-addiction centre in Narela, he is one of 58 inmates—drug addicts and alcoholics—who follow a strict regimen. “When an addict comes to us, he is very aggressive. It is difficult to make him see reason. A month of doing community work with other addicts usually brings about massive behavioural change in the inmate,” says Bharat Bhushan, founder of the centre.
A former drug addict himself, 44-year-old Bhushan picked up the peerbased model for a centre from Suneel Vatsyayan, director of the Navjyoti Delhi Police Foundation, where he spent a year undergoing training. “I had ego problems and was extremely headstrong,” says Bhushan, who was an electrician by profession. Now, he runs four community-managed centres.
Vatsyayan, a 46-year-old relationship counsellor, first introduced this model at the Foundation in 1988. He trained a group of 20 people—including 15 drug addicts—in counseling, event management, communication, primary healthcare and even theatre. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime supported the project. “We have made community therapy more need-based and peer-based,” says Vatsyayan, who has so far treated about 10,000 drug addicts.
“Detoxification is the first step. We also use ear acupuncture as per Nada India Foundation (NIF) treatment protocol. This facilitates retention, reduces violence and has more voluntary admissions,” says Vatsyayan, who is now the chairman of the NIF. Holding a counselling session at Nai Kiran—a network member of NIF, he explains that it is not the addict himself but the family members who have an important role to play in treatment and rehabilitation. “Drugs can make a person very unsocial,” says Vatsyayan, addressing an eclectic group of engineers, doctors and businessmen.
Bansi Lal, a 65-year-old resident of Old Delhi who joined the centre last month, says, “A group healing environment is a powerful thing.” Unable to deal with family problems, Lal became an alcoholic. “I grew despondent and started drinking. Gradually I got addicted and my family members sent me here,” says Lal. Vatsyayan says the availability of alcohol is a factor in addiction. “Next is heroin and then cannabis,” adds Vatsyayan, who also conducts training sessions at other centres.
Vatsyayan, who has trained under Dr Michael O. Smith, a psychiatrist and acupuncturist from New York, plans to set up de-addiction facilities for women. “There is a lot of stigma attached to treating women addicts. Women mostly suffer from alcohol and pharmaceutical drug abuse. Rather than setting up separate de-addiction centers, we can implement home-based and OPD-based therapy,” points out Vatsyayan, working for a drug-free, reformed society.`
RICHA BHATIA Posted online: Sunday , August 17, 2008 at 11:06:38Updated: Sunday , August 17, 2008 at 11:06:38
Suneel Vatsyayan has introduced peer-based community therapy in de-addiction centres
On an ordinary day, Mukesh Narang, a 36-year-old drug addict, would not have woken up at 5.30 a.m. to do household chores. But at Nai Kiran, a de-addiction centre in Narela, he is one of 58 inmates—drug addicts and alcoholics—who follow a strict regimen. “When an addict comes to us, he is very aggressive. It is difficult to make him see reason. A month of doing community work with other addicts usually brings about massive behavioural change in the inmate,” says Bharat Bhushan, founder of the centre.
A former drug addict himself, 44-year-old Bhushan picked up the peerbased model for a centre from Suneel Vatsyayan, director of the Navjyoti Delhi Police Foundation, where he spent a year undergoing training. “I had ego problems and was extremely headstrong,” says Bhushan, who was an electrician by profession. Now, he runs four community-managed centres.
Vatsyayan, a 46-year-old relationship counsellor, first introduced this model at the Foundation in 1988. He trained a group of 20 people—including 15 drug addicts—in counseling, event management, communication, primary healthcare and even theatre. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime supported the project. “We have made community therapy more need-based and peer-based,” says Vatsyayan, who has so far treated about 10,000 drug addicts.
“Detoxification is the first step. We also use ear acupuncture as per Nada India Foundation (NIF) treatment protocol. This facilitates retention, reduces violence and has more voluntary admissions,” says Vatsyayan, who is now the chairman of the NIF. Holding a counselling session at Nai Kiran—a network member of NIF, he explains that it is not the addict himself but the family members who have an important role to play in treatment and rehabilitation. “Drugs can make a person very unsocial,” says Vatsyayan, addressing an eclectic group of engineers, doctors and businessmen.
Bansi Lal, a 65-year-old resident of Old Delhi who joined the centre last month, says, “A group healing environment is a powerful thing.” Unable to deal with family problems, Lal became an alcoholic. “I grew despondent and started drinking. Gradually I got addicted and my family members sent me here,” says Lal. Vatsyayan says the availability of alcohol is a factor in addiction. “Next is heroin and then cannabis,” adds Vatsyayan, who also conducts training sessions at other centres.
Vatsyayan, who has trained under Dr Michael O. Smith, a psychiatrist and acupuncturist from New York, plans to set up de-addiction facilities for women. “There is a lot of stigma attached to treating women addicts. Women mostly suffer from alcohol and pharmaceutical drug abuse. Rather than setting up separate de-addiction centers, we can implement home-based and OPD-based therapy,” points out Vatsyayan, working for a drug-free, reformed society.`