| NAVACHAITANYA
I . NAVACHAITANYA - ADDICTION AWARENESS &
COUNSELLING CENTRE, ALOOR
Navachaitanya is an Institution recognized
by the Central Govt. of India, known all over Kerala for
its valuable services it renders in the field of de-addiction.
This centre was first started by the Social Action of the
Diocese of Irinjalakuda mainly as an alcholic and drug awareness
& counselling centre with its associated activities
in the name -"Navachaitanya", on 19 th March,1991,
situated midway between Irinjalakuda and Chalakudy near
Irinjalakuda Railway Station, under the auspices of the
Diocese of Irinjalakuda. The first initiative came from
a small group of socio-minded people who were motivated
by the malady of alcohol and drug abuse. A new breed of
people - the drug pushers & drug peddlers have emerged
very recently in Kerala. So drug and illicit liquor are
readily available in every nook and corner. It is the need
of the hour to fight this epidemic.
The meritorious services rendered by the
Centre in the field of de-addiction, paved the way to open
an Addiction Treatment Centre - Sanjo Sadan - as a counterpart
of Navachaitanya at Anandapuram on September 10, 1994 which
is about 6 miles away. The central office of both cntres
is Navachaitanya at the B.L.M.Complex, Aloor.
Its Activities
1. Eight day residential camp for alcoholic
and drug addicts is scheduled to be conducted regularly
once in every month, starting on Second Sturday in which
50-60 addicts usually attend. A well planned programme -
awareness counselling, classes, audio visual health education,
spiritual & yoga therapy, prayer sessions - is organised.
An awareness programme is conducted for the wives of the
participants on a fixed day in the camp week. It is advised
that their wives have to bring them to the camp and also
to take them back home after the camp. During the last 10
years 116 de-addiction camps were conducted for 5800 addicts.
Besides such camps we organise various other programmesn
namely :-
1. Nattukoottam - Village awareness programme
2. Seminar for couples, mothers & A.A.group Animators
& Leaders.
3. Four day programme for the addicts & and their
wives
4. Three day camp for the wives alone and their children
alone
5. Field visits.
We also celebrate important days with
different programmes for them, their wives & children.
Prizes will be distributed for the winners in the competitions.
1. Independence Day 2. Onam 3. Christmas 4. International
day against drug abuse-June 26th etc.
II . SANJO SADAN - ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE,
ANANDAPURAM
Sanjo Sadan, the offshoot of Navachaitanya
was started with a special mission of treating addicts.
It was born out of the conviction that addiction is a growing
& chronic disease which needs special treatment by way
of hospitalisation. Addicts fron all walks of life and all
strata of society irrespective of caste or creed, invariably
reach this Centre for treatment. Admission can be made on
all days except Sundays. Expense is Rs.1,750 which covers
their food, lodging and boarding and medicine for 15 days
and for their non residential follow up programme for ensuring
10 weeks including medicine and counselling.
Treatment Procedure
Try to withdraw the patients from all
forms of alcohol, drugs, tobacco under careful medical supervision.
During the detoxification stage regular medical care is
given. Withdrawal symptoms due to sudden stoppage of drugs
& alcohol and health problems associated with addiction
are specially attended. When the physical condition of the
patient stabilizes, starts psychological therapy such as
individual counselling, awareness classes, prayer sessions,
yoga therapy, relaxation techniques, media programmes etc.
Since the addiction is a family illeness it affects not
only the addicted individual but the whole family. Some
times it becomes necessary to treat all the members of the
family. So their wives and children are specilly called
for counselling and group therapy during the treatment and
the follow-up period as well, if necessary. It is highly
essential that they are to be provided with emotional help
and necessary information to cope with the stress, strains
and other problems related to excessive drinking and drug
abuse.
Treatment at the centre for two weeks does not complete
the treatment. Follow-up procedure for a minimum period
of three months is highly needed to help them wean from
the disease of addiction. After their discharge from the
treatment centre, they will be scheduled to meet their respective
counsellors and report their progress and discuss their
problems with them. They will have to meet their Doctors
at the centre to receive medical advice. Even after the
three months follow-up they are engaged to have personal
visits and individual counselling and to attend after-care
programmes in order to prevent the tendencies to relapse.
After their treatment they are advised to attend the 8 day
camp at Navachaitanya as a follow-up programme. We also
arange one day programme for them & for their wives
on every third Saturday and every fourth saturday respectively.
Over 1600 addicts were treated at Sanjo Sadan so far. This
is the only Ayurvedic Centre of this kind in Kerala for
addiction treatment. We find that addiction, though a chronic
disease, is treatable but the chance of recovery is greater
if the treatment is provided at an early sage.
Under the auspices of Navachaitanya centres there are 24
A.A.groups, spread in different parts of Kerala. We conduct
occasional seminars for Al-Anon and A-Ateen and we publish
a monthly magazine called "Navachaitanya" with
four thousand subscribers. Recently we started 'Dare' -
Drug & Alcohol Resistance Education for school and college
campus. Its activities are in full swing in educatng them
about alcoholism, drug abuse, relapses and recovery. In
connection with the Decennial Celebration of Navachaitanya
on September 10, 2001 we have a few new projects inaugurated
such as 1. "NARF" - Navachaitanya Alcohol Resistance
Forum in parishes 2. "WARE" - Work Area Resistance
Education at Factories and 3. "ACC" - After Care
Centre.
Navachaitanya Centres are having a good team of staff and
resource personnel including Rev. sisters, who serve this
Institution whole heartedly with much sense of dedication,
commitment, sacrificing spirit and efficiency :a). two Medical
Experts - one physician and one psychiatrist, b)7 professional
counsellors, c)2 nurses, d)9 staff members who are well
experiences and qualified in their specialised subjecs for
conducting classes and for giving spiritual and yoga therapy
and audio visual education, e)12 service personnel etc.
There prevails an atmosphere of cordiality and prayer during
the programmes conducted here. The present Director is Rev.Dr.Stephen
Chirapanath, Assistant Director Rev.Fr.Jiji Peter Pulikottil
and Administrator at Sanjo Sadan Rev.Sr.Irmina C.M.C.
The whole Navachaitanya schemes are managed by the Diocese
of Irinjalakuda under the department of Social Action. It
is a special concern of Mar James Pazhayattil to meet the
campers of all the camps and encourage them with his inspiring
words. So also he finds time to visit Sanjo Sadan once in
two weeks and meets all the patients individually, listens
to their problems and hears their confession who want to,
and gives away small gifts.
Conclusion
We aim at bringing total abstinence of
the addicts from alcohol & drug addiction and bring
positive effective changes in the behaviour and to improve
their life style and even to regain their place and prestige
in the society. Navachaitanya centre produces very good
positive results which gives us added incentive to serve
in this field for fighting the battle of alcohol and drug
malady. The strength of Navachaitanya is, for sure, the
moral and social support of some good willed and highly
principled people and officials at all levels and in various
spheres in the society. 60 % of our clients are not able
to pay the nominal fees charged, completely. We are under
much financial constraints to go ahead with out activities.
Let us join hands to make this venture successful and fruitful.
Contact Us
Director,
Navachaitanya,
BLM Centre, Aloor - 680 683,
Ph - 0488 720 772 &
Sanjo Sadan,
Anandapuram - 680 323,
Ph - 0488 869 895
|
