Kerala - Kochi   

Breaking the lure of the bottle

KOCHI: Voluntary efforts of an alcohol addict and support of his family are key to the success of any de-addiction programme. The RHIMA De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre at Kaithaveli, which has been striving for three years to help people get out of the vicious trap of alcohol and drug abuse, stresses on this factor.

Of the 647 patients who were treated there, the success rate had been 25 per cent so far, said Dr. Sushil Daniel, director of the project started by the Indian Medical Association, Cochin West and Rotary Club of Cochin Harbour. Many had returned to the Centre twice or thrice for treatment. Most of the patients here are alcohol addicts.

“We classify patients into three groups,” said Dr. Daniel. One who are highly motivated, who stay sober after treatment. “There are patients who have not touched alcohol for three years now,” said Dr. Daniel.

Another group consists of those who stay sober for a period of time. But, they come back for treatment again. Some in this group, who had slipped after six months, have been staying sober for about two years now.

Then, there is a group that is not motivated at all. They have no support from the family and are ostracised from their group of friends because they do not join for a drink. Such people do not come back.

However, counselling and rehabilitation can help in making them too shun alcohol. The centre functions at a place where most of the people are fishermen and unemployment is seen as a major cause for alcoholism. Community participation in rehabilitation is an important part in the treatment, said Dr. Daniel. Recently a get-together was held of people who had got a new lease of life with the centre’s support.

The families too participated to show support to the programme. Prizes were given to those who had abstained from alcohol for more than a year.

City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham was the chief guest.

At the function, Dr. George Joseph presided. Savitha Prabhakar, president, IMA Cochin West; Benny Thomas, president, IMA, Kochi; Tony Manuel, president, Rotary Club of Cochin Harbour and others spoke.

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