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Alcohol dependency and substance abuse seem to have grown among the youths of Odisha. Non-availability of beds in almost all the de-addiction centres in the State indicates this horrifying trend.
As per reports, there are over 100 de-addiction centres in Cuttack, Khordha and Puri districts alone and they are all running at full occupancy, thanks to the ever-growing number of drug addicts and alcoholics.
According to sources, at least 40 percent of addicts currently being treated at de-addiction centres are youths.
‘Samarpan’ is one such de-addiction centre in Bhubaneswar which is run by two former addicts - Snehasis Nayak and Pravudatta Patel, who managed to come clean and sober after falling into the pits of alcohol dependency and drug abuse.
While Nayak, who was the topper of BJB college in Bhubaneswar became an addict soon after his graduation, Patel got addicted to drugs after he went to the US for higher studies. They both fought their battles and emerged victorious against addiction.
decided to team up and run a de-addiction centre to keep the youths away from alcoholism and drug abuse.
Speaking about the addiction of the youths, Nayak said, “We generally think the people who roll on the streets and hurl abuses at others after consuming alcohol are alcoholics. But if a person cannot quit drinking even after facing resistance from family keeping their physical and mental health at risk, then we can say that they have an alcohol problem.”
"More than a bad habit, this is actually a disease. Because, it is not normal for a person to put their life, money and family at risk for just a habit,” said Patel.
The psychiatrists are of the same opinion too. Speaking on the topic, Dr Samrat Kar said, “De-addiction will only be possible when patients themselves will start believing that this is a disease and it can be cured. When they will admit that their livers are getting damaged, and their family is drifting away from them, then only the treatment can bear any fruit for them.”
- Reported by:
- CHANDAN PAIKRAY
