Former addicts now help others kick drug habit

Young people come together to hold 15-day de-addiction camps for poor and give them vocational training

They are a group of young people who were once addicted to drugs and are today determined to help others kick the habit. Calling their organisation Santalu, they are conducting 15-day camps for 32 addicts from the streets and others who fall below the poverty line and can not afford expensive de-addiction programmes. Their aim is to help these people come clean and later provide vocational training and jobs with corporate houses.


On a different high: The 15-day camp aims to help addicts from the
streets who cannot afford expensive de-addiction programmes

"The de-addiction camp started on June 11 and will get over on June 26, which is World Anti Drug Abuse Day," said Indrajit Deshmukh, project coordinator. "We want to help these people become clean, get employment and lead a normal life."u00a0 During the camp, the addicts first get de-oxidation medicines. The organisers help them get their diet plans and psychological treatment. The young people working at the camp have jobs to go to, but still find time for the camp. "We are six of us, and some of us are working with the industry, others are freelancers; we get leaves and work at the camp. We also have volunteers who part-time for us," said Deshmukh, who works as content writer.

At the camp, food and lodging are provided by the group. The members of the group say they did not resort to fund-raising for the purpose. "The bungalow where the camp is on is provided by Dr Vilas Bhailum and the food items, such as vegetables, we obtain by asking people to give us these things," said Deshmukh. After the camp, the group will also provide vocational training in mobile repairing, automobile repairing and computer hardware repairing.

"If the people at the camp come clean, we will be able to give them jobs in the corporate sector. If they get jobs, they will able to support themselves and lead a better life." Deshmukh said that as most of the addicts at their camp had never worked and had so far led their life by stealing and borrowing, it was important to help them stand on their own feet.u00a0

Former addict speaks
Indrajit Deshmukh, project coordinator, talks about the days when he was into drugs I started doing drugs when I was in college. It was just for fun. I was using brown sugar and injections and life completely changed after that. My education stopped as I had to discontinue my studies; then my family stopped supporting me financially.
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I started stealing to support my addiction. It started with stealing petrol because I had to travel to the peddler to get the drug and did not have money to buy petrol. Later I started shoplifting from stores and boutiques. I use to pick up T-shirts and various other items. I started the addiction by doing it once a month. Later it became twice to thrice a week, and finally it was three times a day.

I began doing things which I should not have done, like fighting with and abusing parents, lying, cheating. This got me into trouble and I had a few legal cases filed against me, which went on for a couple of years. My parents paid for my treatment after which I started meeting support groups and after meeting them I realised what I had got into. I managed to stay away from drugs because I could see that others were leading a much better life. My weight was 44 kg and I had lost my teeth; because my way was using needles, my veins are no more visible. It was very difficult at the de-addiction centres. Now I have a much better and disciplined life.