You Can Kick The Habit

Many a times, a fun puff with friends, an occasional drink at parties or an ‘only once experiment’ with drug can get you hooked to the substance for life. Substance abuse in India is on the rise and is a matter of grave concern. Trends show that not just men but a large number of youth and women have taken to smoking, drinking, drugs and gambling. This unhealthy trend has been ruining lives of those affected and their families and also leading to increase in crimes in society. In modern science, addictive behaviours are best conceptualised as ‘bio-psycho-social’ diseases as it proves harmful to the affected person’s physical and mental health. Today counselling and advanced treatment are available that can cure addiction of all types. Though the initiative to quit the habit has to come from the affected person support from family and society can go a long way in rehabilitation of the person. OIOP September 2013 issue ‘Kick the Habit’ looks at various forms of addiction, and the possible treatment and solution. Hope the issue motivates those affected to quit and start life anew.

Rahul Luther

Addiction is a devastating and life-threatening disease that kills the addict and destroys families. The number of addicts in India is growing and the situation is alarming, though not hopeless. In our lead article ‘You can kick the habit’, Rahul Luther, the Founder and Executive Trustee of Hope Trust, based in Hyderabad, which has earned an international reputation for ethical and effective treatment for alcohol and drug addiction, says that addiction can be overcome with effective treatment though the path to recovery is slow and difficult. But it’s worth the effort. Visit (www.hopetrustindia.com) for more details.

Dr. Anju Dhawan

Dr. Raman Deep
 Pattanayak

In the article ‘A habit that clouds adolescent years’, Dr. Anju Dhawan and Dr. Raman Deep Pattanayak focus on the growing instances of substance abuse among adolescents. Substance use during adolescence is a public health issue with potentially serious consequences for the individual, families, society and the nation. Though specialised facilities for treating adolescent substance use disorders are available, there is a need to enhance the coverage of treatment services and community-based approaches.

Dr. Anju Dhawan is Professor & Dr. Raman Deep Pattanayak is Assistant Professor at National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi.

Prof. Pratima Murthy

Substance abuse in women is on the rise. In ‘Alcohol, drugs and women: High time to act’, Prof. Pratima Murthy says, women addicted to alcohol or drugs should be encouraged to seek help and treatment, rather than be criticised or shamed. Prof. Murthy works at the Centre for Addiction Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. She has authored several reports on women and drug use supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and has been a consultant to the UN on gender and substance use.

Gambling has crushed many lives. In ‘The stakes are high’, Thirumagal. V., a Programme Consultant with TTK Hospital, a pioneer addiction treatment centre in Chennai in Tamil Nadu, writes that it’s possible to change and start life anew.

Dr. Prakash C. Gupta

Dr. Mira Aghi

Helping tobacco users quit requires a behavioural change. For this to happen, the person has to understand the rationale for the change and be convinced that the change is beneficial for him, write Dr. Prakash C. Gupta and Dr. Mira Aghi in the article ‘Up in smoke’. Dr. Prakash C. Gupta is Director, Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, Navi Mumbai and Dr. Mira Aghi is a Consultant Behavioural Scientist.

Dr. Atul Ambekar

Drug addiction is a disease for which effective treatment options are available today. With a judicious combination of personal motivation, medication, and professional counselling, it is possible for a large number of individuals to break the cycle of drug addiction, writes Dr. Atul Ambekar, M.D. in his article ‘Managing drug addiction’. The writer is Additional Professor, National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

T. R. Meena

The battle against addiction can be won through sincere and empathetic efforts not only from family and society, but also the government. In ‘The government in the good fight, T. R. Meena talks about the government’s efforts in curbing alcohol and substance abuse in the country.

The writer is the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment dealing with the issues pertaining to Social Defence (Ageing, Drug Abuse Prevention, Beggary &Transgenders). He has a distinguished track record of working with the local self Government institutions and taken a series of initiatives for the community participation in the implementation of various socio-rural and economic development programmes and schemes of the Government. He was known as “People’s Collector” while working as Collector of Trichur Districts in Kerala.

Piroj Wadia

Movies showing matinee idols drinking, smoking or doing drugs have been criticised for corrupting young minds. While young, impressionable minds do emulate what happens on screen, isn’t art a reflection of society? asks Piroj Wadia in the article ‘Addiction, on and off screen’. The writer is a veteran film journalist.

In ‘Know India Better’, Katie Dubey visits Manipur, known as the ‘Jewel of India’, one of the seven sister states of the North-east and is enchanted by its natural beauty and rich heritage. Home to the only floating lake in the world, containing phumdis or unusual patch formations not found elsewhere in the world and offering a secure haven to the beleaguered Sangai, Manipur is indeed the ‘Jewel of India’. The writer is the author of three coffee-table books and writes for various newspapers and magazines on nature and environment.

Temple jewellery in India is not just a symbol of luxury or social status, but has a deep spiritual significance touching the innermost sublime feelings of a devotee, writes B.M.N. Murthy in a special feature on ‘The exquisite temple jewellery of India’.

The writer, a retired engineer from the Life Insurance Corporation of India, writes regularly on Indian heritage, tradition, vedic wisdom, etc.

Dr. Gulrukh Bala

In ‘Face to Face’, Ashna Contractor speaks to Dr. Gulrukh Bala, a counsellor and a spiritual healer, who practices a number of healing modalities, the most important of which is supramental yoga. Through the treatments she offers at Heartlight Ascension founded by her, Dr. Bala claims that she is gifted with the ability to guide her patients back to their Center and thereby heal their physical illnesses and improve their quality of life. Dr. Bala talks about her belief in natural healing methods, the nature of her treatment and some personal anecdotes.

Ashna Contractor

Ashna is a fourth year undergraduate student studying Political and Social Thought and Psychology at the University of Virginia.

Devesh Mundra

In our ‘Youth Column’, Devesh Mundra calls upon the youth to take responsibility to shape a New India. Devesh is a F.Y.B.Com student at Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics, Mumbai. He is a committee member of National Service Scheme (NSS) Unit of the College and likes to work for the society. He is also fond of debates especially related to politics and governance.

September 21 is observed as the World Alzheimer’s Day. On the occasion, Col. V.K. Khanna throws light on the causes, symptoms and possible treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in the article ‘Losing memories’.

According to The Dementia India Report 2010 by ARDSI (Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India), there were 3.7 million Indians with dementia in 2010 and the numbers are expected to double by 2030. In such a scenario, it becomes inevitable to understand the reasons and causes of dementia and spread the word about it. Col. V.K. Khanna is Executive Director, ARDSI-Delhi Chapter.

Lisa Bernhardt

‘India is not explainable, it has to be experienced,’ says Lisa Bernhardt.  Coming from a small town in Germany, Lisa felt like Alice in Wonderland when she first came to Mumbai. But she was excited nonetheless. Lisa says that her trip to India has been a learning experience and it has changed her perceptions about poverty, family and culture.

Lisa Bernhardt is currently finishing her secondary studies near Frankfurt, Germany. She is interested in international relations, travel and experiencing new cultures and doing social work. She did a brief internship with One India One People, in August.

Dr. Sunita Khariwal

In ‘Unwiring Gen X’, Dr. Sunita Khariwal raises health concerns about the disturbing trend of children getting hooked to the Internet and mobile, which is alienating them from the real world and making them emotionally dependent on the virtual. She calls upon parents, teachers and all stakeholders to make a concerted effort to address this serious issue. The writer is Incharge Principal, K.C.Law College, Mumbai.

 

In ‘Great Indians’, we feature Vice Admiral M. K. Roy PVSM, AVSM, the dynamic visionary (1926-2013); Squadron Leader A J Devayya MVC, the spirited soldier (1932-1965) and Prof. Sharmila Rege, feminist scholar, author and popular teacher (1964-2013).

Also don’t miss our regular columns on current economy, rural issues and culture.

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