I was happy to read that 26th June is being observed as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. There is an increase in alcohol and drug abuse these days, mainly among the youth. I was going through a bad phase of life, drowned in alcohol and loneliness. After my wedding last year, my wife too felt left out for having married an alcoholic husband, who used to consume alcohol every night and skip meals. The only solace for her was that I never was rude or violent with her, but had given her all the necessary requirements she needed. But I needed to change and after having gone through having fits due to excess alcohol or high blood pressure, life has become miserable. Therefore I decided to change and go through the rehabilitation of my alcoholism. I had heard of KRIPA Foundation, the largest Non-Governmental Organization in India, affiliated with the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, working among people afflicted with chemical dependency & HIV Infection. I made a decision to attend this 90-day programme at Kripa Foundation situated at Mount Carmel Church, Bandra (West), where we were explained that Alcoholism and Drug Addiction is a disease”. The programme began with the de-addiction of alcohol at Kripa Foundation at Vasai, followed by an intense programme at Bandra, which included Yoga, meditation, Therapy Duty Assignment (TDA) besides the various talks on the ill-effects and side effects of alcohol/drug addiction and how can we conquer this disease. Kripa Foundation is the wonderful gift for the chemically dependent. Thus alcoholics, drug addicts and others who are chemically dependent should participate in the 90-day residential programme of KRIPA Foundation. KRIPA Foundation is founded by Rev. Fr. Joseph H. Pereira, who recently received the Padmashree award through the hands of the former President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil for social work. KRIPA Foundations are spread in 11 states of the country and have 51 centres throughout the country.
Cajetan Peter D’souza
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
