The long road to recovery

Deceptively easy, that first contact with a banned substance could lead a youth to an euphoric high. But as he sinks deeper into a drug-induced twilight world of fantasy and make-believe, the mind gets slippery, the addict surrenders to the dictates of an unquenched desire for more. Trapped in hallucinations, disconnected from his family and social mileau, he eventually succumbs.

Precariously perched on the edge, does the addict have a chance? Attempting precisely that are an estimated 48 recognised de-addiction centres in Bengaluru. But the recovery process is extremely complex, a task that demands loads of patience, empathy, care and understanding. Dwelling deeper into this prolonged rescue affair, counsellors Shashidhar H and Sampangaiah talks about the challenges all along the recovery path.

First contact
The first contact, as Sampangaiah, a sobriety guide for 30 years explains, is about the addict’s first bodily connect with a banned substance. “The body craves for it. The body and brain cells get activated. But this activation leads to addiction only among 20 out of 100 cases. Addiction happens when the physical allergy combines with mental obsession leading to compulsive mental obsession.”

The addict is in excellent state of mind at the first contact stage. No behavioural changes occur. But as the drug consumption moves from casual to regular, the ‘progression’ stage takes over. Sampangaiah says the progression could be in six months to an year or even more depending on the individual’s capacity. “During this phase, the drug quantity that satisfied him in the contact stage will not suffice. The body deteriorates as the quantity increases,” explains the sobreity guide.

Warning phase
This is when the progression stage heads straight to the dangerous ‘warning’ phase. The chemicals in the drug accelerate its brain-cell killing spree, affects the nervous system and attacks the liver. The addict stops eating, and the body responds only to the chemicals. “At the warning stage, the body functions only on chemicals. The addict lives only subconsciously, totally pushing back all thoughts of family and social life.”

Reduced to a mental wreck, he loses the ability to make decisions by himself. “The family cannot control the addict at this stage. It is then the family members call us. It is when the addict gets desperate for the chemicals and is ready to go to any length, crimes, robbery, even murder,” points out Shashidhar, who runs the Kengeri-based Sri Santhosh Social Service Society. The Society has rehabilitated 1,200 addicts since its inception.

Withdrawal
It is an uphill task thereafter. Withdrawal from addiction could take a month to three months depending on the severity. The body system would have collapsed. Mild medication is first administered to slowly heal the damage caused by the drugs. “He needs to be brought out of the hallucination, characterised by a mind-body disconnect,” Shashidhar elaborates.

The addict has to learn to control the craving for the chemical. “Till this happens, we continue to provide the support system. After 15 days into the course, we start with yoga, meditation and other exercises. Counselling and psychiatric assessment follows,” adds Sampangaiah.

But ignoring the ‘Warning’ stage could turn fatal if ignored. The final ‘acute’ stage could be a point of no return. “The role of the family is extremely crucial at this stage. They should be able to identify the physical and behavioural changes in the person as the latter would be living in a totally different world by then.”

The message is clear: Professional help makes sound sense at every stage. As the sobriety guide warns, any attempt at withdrawal without proper care and medical assistance, warns the sobriety guide, could even lead to death.