Every year on June 26, the world observes the “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.” This day is not just about raising awareness—it is a call to meaningful action.
The theme for this year, “Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation for All,” reminds us that drug addiction is not a moral weakness but a medical condition. It emphasises that everyone—regardless of age, gender, or background—deserves a chance at recovery and rehabilitation.
The Growing Challenge
As a psychiatrist, I have observed that drug abuse is increasingly becoming a concern even in smaller towns and rural areas. It affects people across all walks of life—students, software engineers, healthcare professionals, labourers, daily wage workers, and homemakers alike. Substances like alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, heroin, and synthetic drugs are readily available today. What is alarming is how casual or occasional use can quickly lead to dependence. Many unsuspecting individuals fall into this trap, often without knowing how to seek help or break free.
Drug abuse does not just destroy the individual; it affects families, relationships, finances, and future prospects.
Why Do People Fall Into This Trap?
Several key factors contribute to substance abuse:
- Peer Pressure: Especially among adolescents, the influence of friends can be powerful.
- Mental Stress: Many turn to substances to cope with academic, professional, or personal pressures.
- Mental Health Issues: Some use drugs to manage stage fright, depression, or anxiety.
- Easy Availability: The more accessible these substances are, the greater the risk.
- Lack of Awareness: Most people are unaware of the addictive and harmful effects of these substances.
Raising awareness is the first step in breaking these chains.
Prevention Starts at Home and in the Community
To tackle this menace, the efforts of families, schools, and communities are crucial:
Open Conversations: Talk to children and adolescents about drugs and mental health.
Teach Coping Skills: Help them learn how to handle failure, stress, and peer pressure.
Professional Guidance: Psychiatrists and psychologists should conduct workshops in schools, making the message accessible and relatable to students.
Awareness: It’s important for everyone to realise that addiction is a medical issue, not a character flaw.
Treatment: Medical Help is Essential
For those who have already fallen into substance abuse, medical help is vital. Blaming or shaming them is not the answer—providing treatment and rehabilitation is.
Treatment involves
Medical Detoxification:
Managing withdrawal symptoms with appropriate medications. Each substance has its own withdrawal symptoms—insomnia, body aches, sweating, anxiety, and more. Doctors prescribe medicines to help manage these effects.
Psychotherapy and Counselling:
Understanding the root causes of addiction and addressing them.
Medications:
Drugs such as baclofen, acamprosate, topiramate (to reduce craving), disulfiram (for alcohol), and naltrexone (for opioids) are used as needed. If the patient also suffers from depression or anxiety, those conditions are treated as well.
Family Therapy:
Addiction affects the entire family. Sometimes, family members’ behaviours may inadvertently enable the addiction. Counselling helps families support the recovery process.
Long-term Follow-up:
Regular check-ups—weekly, monthly, or even yearly—are necessary to monitor progress and prevent relapse.
Rehabilitation Centres:
In some cases, patients need to be admitted to rehabilitation centres, especially if there is a high risk of relapse at home. These centres should operate under medical supervision and focus on discipline, routine, medical, and psychological care, rather than punishment or isolation.
Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are also vital. Attending these meetings regularly helps individuals stay motivated and reduce the risk of relapse.
Drug Abuse Rehabilitation: A New Beginning
Rehabilitation is the start of a new life. The goals are:
- Reconnecting with family and friends
- Seeking education or employment opportunities
- Building self-confidence and emotional resilience
- Leading a meaningful, drug-free life
Recovery is not a magic overnight transformation—it is a journey that requires the support and patience of family, doctors, and peer groups.
Conclusion
Let us remember: addiction is not a crime, but a medical condition. Recovery is not a distant dream—it is a right. On this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, let us pledge to break the chains of stigma, ignorance, and silence. Let us replace them with compassion, action, and hope.
Recovery is possible. Treatment is available. Prevention is the best cure. Together, we can ensure that no one has to fight this battle alone.
About the Author: Dr. P.V. Bhandary is a well-known Psychiatrist in Udupi and Medical Director at Dr. A.V.Baliga Memorial Hospital at Doddanagudde, Udupi. He was selected for CADABMA’S distinguished Psychiatrist Award 2012. This award is initiated for his outstanding services to the marginalized section of society in psychiatry. The award was presented to him at Bangalore in the presence of His Excellency Dr. H.R Bharadwaj, Governor of Karnataka, His Excellency Dr. K Rosaiah, Governor of Tamil Nadu, and His Grace Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, and other dignitaries.
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