Overcoming addiction : A woman's tale
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 27 2012: If you think it is not possible for woman drug users and a commercial sex workers to return to the mainstream and lead a normal life, you need to think twice or maybe thrice.

The collective efforts of family, NGOs and firm resolution of the individuals concerned could surely pay dividends in the rehabilitation of women drug addicts.

Memcha (name changed) was a drug addict for over a decade.

All throughout these years she was isolated from her loved and near ones including her three children apart from living in isolation from the society and locality due to her addiction and of course, prostitution.

She sold her body in order to earn money to meet the needs of her addiction.

She was discriminated and stigmatised.

Not surprisingly, Memcha gave up her addiction now.

Subsequently, she also quit her profession as commercial sex worker.

And fortuitously, there is no look back.

She now sells ngari at Khwairamband Keithel and lives happily with her children thanks to her firm determination and self-confidence, assistance from NGOs and family support.

Finding a source of livelihood

The stigma attached on her has also become lessened day by day.

In an attempt to minimise the withdrawal syndromes on drug addicts and to bring them back to the mainstream, various programmes have been implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, National AIDS Control Organisation and several individual funding agencies.

Two rehabilitation centres in the State� Drop In Centre (DIC) at North AOC, Imphal, opened under the initiative of SASO under its Chanurakon project, implemented by India HIV/AIDS Alliance with funding from Elton John AIDS Foundation and Mangan centre at Churachandpur with funding from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment�have greatly helped Memcha to lead a normal mainstream life.

But not only these assistance could not change the habits of a drug addict.

In their way back to the mainstream, drug addicts have to battle several hurdles that stand on their way in the form of lack of self-confidence, lack of family support, lack of financial support and lack of communication.

The collective efforts of DIC, Mangan, family and her strong determination have helped Memcha to lead a new life after giving up drugs and her 'profession' .

"I am leading a contended life by selling ngari to support my three children and now I am living happily with them," Memcha wryly said while interacting with The Sangai Express.

According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 47 percent of woman drug addicts suffer from depression while 55 percent of them have anxiety.

35 percent of them have moral resignation while all of them have commonly guilty feeling, shame, lack self-confidence, ignoring about their life.

They also have high tendency to spread AIDS and Hepatitis-C .

The same things happened to Memcha.

"At the initial time of being introduced to drugs, I have hesitation to enter my house.

Even I did not care about my life when I was first introduced to prostitution," Memcha recalled vividly.

"When I left home, my eldest child was eight while my youngest daughter was just a toddler.

But when I returned back home my youngest daughter was almost grown-up," she said.

Recounting her foray into addiction and prostitution, Memcha said her husband had died of drug overdose and left many debts behind him.

She struggled hard to make a living with her children and repaying her husband's debt.

It was at this point of time that she was introduced to drug and commercial sex activity by a friend of her in the locality, out of ignorance.

Umpteen times Memcha had unfruitful attempt to shun her ways until she was in touch with the Drop In Centre with the help of a friend.

She was given treatment at the DIC and was later referred to Mangan.

While in this stage, the NGO workers and the family members worked in close collaboration.

On her part, bravely putting up a challenge that confronts many drug addicts and without any second thought of what might befall her right after coming out from the rehabilitation centre, Memcha began selling chilli at Khwairamband Keithel.

She said many addicts fall back due to fear of facing a public life and lack of confidence on them after coming out from rehabilitation centres.

Lack of enough profit forced her to shift her trade in Ngari, which was found to be fruitful.

Now she is able to sell Ngari worth Rs 10,000 per day.

With the money she saved in her trade she could bail out the pension book which was at the custody of someone.

Once she got rid of addiction, there is no look back.

She said she was too busy to have a thought on drugs while conveying that she has firm determination not to touch the drugs again.

The only problem with her now is the frequent disturbances caused to her by traffic personnel.

She has no licence at Khwairamband Keithel.

As such, rain or shine, she has to shift from place to place in order to make a good profit.