Recovering addicts join hands to pave way for recovery of addicted people
Manipur has culture of using addictive substances, but they are trying to build a culture without such substances: NA member
Source: Chronicle News Service / Chingkhei Luwang

Imphal, June 07 2022: In addition to the several initiatives being taken up from different fronts to save the land from drug menace, recovering addicts (people who stopped drinking or taking drugs) and addicts are helping one another to ensure that addicted people stay away from such harmful substances.

The number of people abusing psychotropic substances is increasing in Manipur as per a survey report titled 'Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India' published jointly by National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2019 .

Notable, the report placed Manipur, which is a dry state, among the top 10 states having highest number of people using alcohol, cannabis and opioids (heroin, opium) and who needed treatment.

The state also has 34,000 Person Who Inject Drugs (PWID) making it the highest number of PWIDS in North East and among top ten states in the country.

Also, the report revealed that one out of every five males who drink alcohol needs medical attention, while one out of every 16 females needs treatment in India.

Though founded in USA, Narcotics Anonymous (NA), which is a non-profit community, spread its wings in Manipur in and formed Imphal Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous, where recovering addicts and addicted people help one another to ensure total abstinence from drugs and alcohol.

Founded on the idea of self-sustenance, they refrain from taking outside helps including monetary aid and themselves pooling in whatever they could to maintain the daily affairs of the organisation and to get treated from the disease of 'addiction'.

Speaking to The People's Chronicle in this regard, Imphal Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous member Bung S informed that there are 13 groups of NA in the state having a total member of around 3000.All the members are addicts including alcohol and recovering addicts trying to start a life of sobriety.

The groups convene NA meetings frequently during which the members meet and share their stories and about addiction.

They also visit rehabilitation centres to spread the message of NA.

"The desire to stop using drugs is the only thing needed to become a member of NA.

Every member is equal irrespective of class, caste, sex, religion and community", Bung remarked.

While accepting themselves as patients of 'addiction' which is an incurable disease, the NA members are essentially a therapeutic community and in continuous treatment and recovery process.

As such, many addicts have now returned to normal life, dropouts began resumed school and colleges, thus helping in the development of society.

Presently, members of NA including women and minors are staying away from drugs and alcohol and also guiding other addicts to the path of recovery, Bung said.

He made it clear that NA groups are restricted to take any funds or outside help as it is based solely on self-sustenance.

Moreover, NA is not affiliated to any rehabilitation centres, but the groups visit the centres to spread its message.

Committee members also visit countries like Bhutan, Myanmar and other North East states to spread its message and to set up such groups.

Pointing out that Manipur has several cultures and events that entice indulgence in addictive substances, Bung stated that they are endeavouring to form a culture without such substance.

The members are not allowed to take awards, claim name and fame and take up individual activities.

It is group of anonymous people who work for recovering of addicts.

Meanwhile, Moirangthem Anand, who is celebrating his 10th clean birthday, said that his life was completely devastated when he became an addict.

He began using liquor and cannabis from around 17-18 years of age and became completely addicted to heroin at the age of 25/26 years.

During those times, fighting and stealing money from home used to be a daily affair, he recalled.

Anand further said that he had been in rehabilitation centre thrice, but could not recover from addiction as he does not have the desire to do so.

During his last stint in a rehabilitation centre, he started having the desire of staying away from drugs.

Luckily, after completion of the days in the rehabilitation centre and finding NA group, he is now is in total abstinence from such substances.

Neighbours and locals, who were once disgusted by his nature, have now changed their minds as he has become clean and even asked for suggestions on how to get treatment or recover from addiction.

"I have never celebrated my birthday.

However, I have been celebrating clean birthday every year for the last ten years to mark the day I stopped using addictive substance with a notion that a new life has been born", he remarked.

Anand further confided that his son is now indulging in addictive substance.

The reason for it might be because of the scenes he had created in the family during his addiction days, he lamented, while adding that his son is also under going recovery treatment by making him attend NA meetings.

With a new life without drugs, he is running a bakery and sustaining his family.

Thus, ending the battle with drugs and beginning another chapter and another battle for his life, he added.

According to a report culled by Imphal Area Service Committee of NA, 1,775 new members were enrolled from November 2021 to May 2022.During the said timeline, 898 meetings were convened.

On an average, 37 meetings are convened by the 13 groups in a week and around 5 meetings everyday at different places.

Every addict who has the desire to stop using addictive substance can join the meeting.

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