Continued from page 01 DR MERCHANT left around 29 youngsters in shock last week as he broke the news of his heart blockage to them. His patients, attending a de- addiction programme at a rehabilitation centre in Kalyan, got their first hint when the doctor began calling them in batches at his home in Crawford Market for their therapy sessions instead of travelling to Kalyan.
Founder president of Drug Abuse Information, Rehabilitation and Research Centre ( DAIRRC), the 63- yearold informed his patients of his prostate cancer six months ago and the subsequent radiation treatment that he was undergoing. He was recently diagnosed with a heart blockage and underwent a successful bypass surgery. However, as a thorough professional, he called for a meeting at Radio Club a week before his surgery with more than 60 people u2014 currently undergoing therapy and some who have successfully undergone the de- addiction programme in the past u2014 in attendance. Dr Merchant explained to them in detail about his health issues and even made arrangements by introducing a counsellor, Nabila Ankolvi, who will take care of the patients in his absence.
His sister Yasmin Merchant, said, u201c Thatu2019s life for my brother u2014 always focussing on his patients at the de- addiction centre.u201d The therapy sessions he held at home were also helping him heal, Dr Suleman Merchant, Dr Yusufu2019s elder brother and former dean of LTMG Hospital added.
u201c He needs to rest but knowing him, we let him conduct the sessions at home. He becomes restless if he is not around the kids.u201d Work to continue After being discharged from Bombay hospital post his bypass surgery, Dr Yusuf told mid- day that it was his brother who advised him to undergo Prostate Specific Antigen Level test which confirmed the prostate cancer. u201c The doctors initially started with hormones and later advised me to undergo 25 cycles of radiation with some 10 completed up to last December.
Sometime in January second week, I began feeling unwell again and it was confirmed that I had severe blockage in my heart and had already experienced a heart attack,u201d he explained further.
u201c Thanks to the prayers and wishes of my patients from all over the world and my family, I have got a second lease of life. I have always chased my dreams, achievements, fame and success, but now I want to enjoy every moment of life, appreciate things,u201d said Dr Yusuf said.
Speaking of his war against drug abuse, Dr Yusuf said that the problem was on a rise among college- goers.
u201c Easy availability and cheap drugs like Mephedrone/ MCAT/ Meow Meow are the reasons behind it. At the rehabilitation centre, the number of teenagers who have exposed themselves to this drug are phenomenally high and our aim is to get them out of this,u201d said the man whose relentless campaign against Meow Meow led to its ban in 2015 in India.
u2018 He is a fighteru2019 Rakesh ( name changed), 20, was at a rehab centre for six months. He began smoking cigarettes at the age of 11 and soon dropped out of school.
u201c When on Meow Meow, I would watch porn for hours. I would get depressed, sometimes even suicidal.
The frustration and anger led to bouts of rage and I would bang my head on the wall, punch mirrors and even hit my parents and brother if they tried to intervene,u201d he recalled.
Rakesh also dealt with paranoia, imagining that people wanted to kill him. u201c Drugs werenu2019t making me happy anymore. I had heard of Dr Merchant and decided it was time to get help. And what a change it has been ever since. I am happy being sober and I never want to go back there.
This has been possible only thanks to Dr Merchant. His presence itself speaks volumes for us. We know nothing will happen to him. He is a fighter.u201d u2018 Always accessibleu2019 Arpan ( name changed), who was hooked on to drugs too, would call peddlers in his neighbourhood to supply him with Meow Meow. u201c I had used my driver and servants to collect these. I would remain awake for three to four days, and when on Meow Meow, my sexual drive would be immense. I would lock myself in a room and watch porn for hours at a stretch,u201d he said, adding that once the low hit, u201c it was the most painful experience of my life.u201d Arpan elaborated, u201c I couldnu2019t sleep, eat and was paranoid.
I was in a mess. My relationship with my family went downhill and so did my academics and friendships.
Ultimately, I decided to tell my dad the truth and then my life changed.u201d With Dr Yusufu2019s help, Arpan made a fresh start. u201c He was always easily accessible.
Dr Yusuf is more than family to me. I wish him a speedy recovery and a healthy life,u201d he said.
u2018 He gets restless when not surrounded by the kidsu2019 Anti- drug crusader Dr Yusuf Merchant, who turned around lives of hundreds of drug abuse victims, wonu2019t let cancer defeat him, say his young patients and close family members Dr Yusuf Merchant undergoing radiation therapy Youngsters at Dr Yusuf Merchantu2019s rehabilitation centre at Fountain. File pic u2018 I have got a second lease of life.
I have always chased my dreams, achievements, fame and success, but now I want to enjoy every moment of life, appreciate thingsu2019 Dr Yusuf Merchant u2018 I had heard of Dr Merchant and decided it was time to get help. And what a change it has been ever since. I am happy being sober and I never want to go back there. This has been possible only thanks to Dr Merchant. His presence itself speaks volumes for us. We know nothing will happen to him. He is a fighteru2019 A former drug abuse victim 29 No. of patients Dr Merchant is currently treating at home
