Success Stories

A person aged 32, was admitted in this Centre for treatment with a history of taking intravenous injections of Norphin mixed with Avil 2-3 ampoules, along with Injection Fortwin for the last 9 years. The father told that he had lost his younger son due to similar problem and had instinctive fear about the end of his progeny. Patient was divorced twice due to his addiction.

He was detoxified and gradually stabilized through medication, individual and group counseling blended with spiritual healing. Patient gradually got stabilized and his withdrawal features abated, he put on 6 kg weight, sleep and appetite improved and mood became cheerful. He was discharged with the advice to come for regular follow up.

He got remarried to the widow of his younger brother (through “Chadar-ceremony”). And he has been blessed with a son. In addition to farming, he is also employed in a factory. He has referred and brought himself more than sixty addicts from his area for admission to this centre. His father states, “Your institution has not only saved a family from devastation but made my home a heaven on earth”.

A 21 year patient who started smoking cigarette/biri butts while studying in Class IV. As he grew up he was prompted to experience a new and thrilling substance “correcting fluid” (inhaling toluene-based substance). He would spend long hours outside the house secretly smelling the fluid directly from the containers, and at times he would splash the fluid over a handkerchief to smell and inhale.

Patient’s father is a cobbler. Patient was the youngest of the four siblings. His two elder brothers are post graduates and employed, one of them pursuing a doctorate in a university. The third brother helps his father. The child was treated with minimum medication and counselling, he didn’t complain of gross withdrawal features, ate and slept well and there was no obvious depression or anxiety. He was discharged after 3-4 weeks and advised regular follow up.

When his father brought him for re-admission in our Centre he was using ‘Chitta’ (Heroin) intravenously, was drinking heavily and smoking ‘Bhang’ (Cannabis), contrary to his (father’s) usual demeanour he was sad at that time. The father was reassured and his son admitted. This time he responded well, stayed in the Centre for more than three months, took active interest in the Centre activities. He also acted as a peer counsellor. This proved to be the last admission. After discharge he got married, is abstinent and not taking any medicine. He and his family are obliged to the institution for getting him rid of the drugs.

Then aged 34 years, labourer by profession, studied up to third, and a case of Poly Substance Abuse (Alcohol, Nicotine-smoked and non-smoked, Cannabis (Bhang), Carisoprodol based tablets etc.) with a history of 15 years, he was married and had three children-two daughters (15yrs, 8 yrs) and a son (6 yrs). It was informed by the family that a few years back due to his aggressive and violent behaviour he had to be kept in a police lockup at the request of his family. Chronic drug abuse had made him a mental wreck. During his stay period of two and a half month he was treated symptomatically.

After a gap of 10 months he was again brought back for admission in our Centre. He looked frail, sick, restless, talking irrelevant and was too verbose. He was showing all the signs and symptoms of drug psychosis i.e. hallucinations and delusions. During his second admission the patient stayed for more than 4 months in the Centre and made remarkable progress in his mental and physical condition. He gained 13 kilograms in weight and looked stable and talking relevant. At the time of discharge he was advised a regular follow up.

The regular follow up and compliance with treatment helped the patient gain in mental and physical health. He started working on a regular basis. From a labourer he rose to become a mason. “Whatever I earn, I give it to my wife. I have built a pucca house which has two rooms, a store, kitchen and a varandah though it is yet to be plastered”, said the patient beamingly. His wife confirmed his versions.

During recent follow up visits the patient was found wearing a turban and with grown up and free lowing beard. When asked about this change he replied, I belong to Bairagi Sadhu family and I like to support a turban. I am thankful to your Centre and the spiritual atmosphere in this Drug De-Addiction centre, he said “I am blessed to have been admitted here for treatment”.

A 28 years man reported to our Centre for “Multiple Drug-Addiction” problem of 11-12 years duration. Before being inclinated into the drugs, he was a sincere and hardworking student. Parents were proud of his caring nature, excellent manners and a truthful living. He had his education in a good rural school. Once he went to Delhi to meet a relative who ran a transport business. He was overwhelmed by the luster of metropolis life. Soon he got hooked to liquor and then he tried various drugs orally and through injection. Once during intoxication, he got involved into a scuffle and was locked up by Police but was let off later.

He got a private job, and as per his statement he earned a lot of money but squandered all on drugs. He had an affair with a girl whom he wanted to marry but it didn’t materialize and she got married elsewhere. Now his condition worsened, it was a very dark period of his life and he thought of ending this journey and even attempted suicide.

He came to know about the Akal Drug De-Addiction Centre, Baru Sahib. He sought consultation and was treated for the first time as an indoor case for a period of about four months. The treatment, a blend of modern medicine with spiritual component, worked wonders and he improved and gradually became symptom free. Working as a peer counsellor, he earned worthy reports by the staff, medical officer, psychiatrist and patients. He is not on any maintenance drugs. He recovered so well that he has been employed in the De-Addiction Centre and successfully rehabilitated.

MWS, 25 years, was admitted with the history of taking Codeine based cough syrup, 2-3 bottles (200-300 ml) a day, 20-30 tablets of Carisoma (carisoprodol), Sulpha(cannabis), smoked and non-smoked tobacco. There was a past history of alcohol and Bhuki (a crude opioid) use. Patient is now the only son, his elder brother died of electrocution and father is also addicted to liquor and Bhuki.

He sought admission to Akal Drug De-addiction Centre on his own. There was no pressure on the part of the family to force him for admission. Patient was detoxified and medication, yoga, recreational activities had been continued along with counselling and family therapy. A divinity preacher engaged the patients in a time structured schedule of meditation and Simran. In the Centre he was cooperative, took active part in the Centre activities and was responsive to treatment.

The patient was discharged after four weeks of stay in Centre and was advised regular follow up visits. He is on maintenance treatment of Buprenorphine with Nalaxone, one tablet of 2.5 mg sublingually daily. He looks after his agricultural farm, remains constructively occupied, is totally abstinent, and performs his family and social obligations. Patient said “My father is an addict and I ensure regular supply of liquor and bhuki to him without getting myself affected at all”. He is complying with the treatment and the family accompanying the patient during follow up visit substantiated that the patient had been maintaining improvement.

The 25 years matriculate hailing from the joint agrarian family of Malwa region was admitted for poly substance use disorder of 5 years duration. His addiction was precipitated and perpetuated by the death of his brother. He responded extremely well to a single admission of four weeks of stay treatment at our centre. He is totally abstinent for over six years now and is on harm reduction therapy. He is confident to keep himself off drugs, is shouldering family and social responsibilities, and remains cheerfully and constructively occupied.

“If I can be cured, so can you be” is the motivational utterance of MS (name withheld), a 48 years old recovered patient, during the peer counselling session at Akal Drug De-addiction Centre, Cheema, in District Sangrur, Punjab. He is a happy man now, baptized on the auspicious day of Baisakhi 2018. He gives the credit of his recovery to his wife and other family members whose relentless and undeterred efforts have borne fruits.

MS was born to a modest Sikh family of Malwa belt of Punjab. He took up a government job in the year 1997 and got married in the same year. He, like any other young and newly married men, was brimming with enthusiasm to chase his many dreams. But soon after his marriage, the peaceful atmosphere at home became disharmonious. The situation did not improve; he felt disturbed and distressed. To soothe the nerves, he was suggested a peg or two of liquor. After this he felt relieved. Gradually he had to increase the quantity of liquor. Home atmosphere deteriorated and he started absenting himself from duty, adding further to the economic difficulties.

He was brought to Akal Drug De-addiction Centre and was treated with medication, family therapy and spiritually augmented counseling. In the centre, he was observed to be attending the spiritually oriented schedule regularly and attentively. But he relapsed soon after getting discharged. As such, his wife got separated from him leaving behind two children. Ultimately, the couple got divorced.

For years, he was shuttling in and out of the Drug De-addiction Centre without any significant improvement. To make the matter worse, he would visit brothels and contracted Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). Somehow, the family got him married again. But the home atmosphere worsened further. Yet, the family, especially his wife, supported MS consistently and had faith in the institution. He was admitted to the Centre for the treatment continuously for 28 times. But every time he would relapse within a week or so. During the last admission in late 2017, he showed signs of improvement. Perhaps, the seedling of spirituality got sprouted. He got baptized and is now totally abstinent and is not even on medicines. He visits the Centre for peer counseling to the indoor patients and also guides other patients of drug addiction to seek treatment.

JS (name withheld), a 35 years old man, was admitted to Akal Drug De-addiction Centre, Cheema, in District Sangrur, Punjab as a case of poly-substance use disorder. He was addicted to bhukki, cannabis, chewing tobacco (zarda) and tramadol (an opioid pain medication).

At the age of 20, he got engaged and preparation for his marriage was in full swing. As he and his brother went for shopping, they unfortunately met with a tragic road accident. Both of them were admitted to a hospital. While the patient’s brother succumbed to his injuries, he suffered multiple fractures in his right leg. Ultimately, his injured leg was amputated above the knee. During his stay at the hospital for 4-5 months, because of excruciating pain at the site of amputation as well as in the amputated limb, he had to be administered injectable pain killers. Pain was so severe even after he got discharged from the hospital that he sought medical help and was advised strong analgesics and gradually became addicted to it.

The girl, whom he got engaged to, came to know about his condition and he himself asked her to look for another match. But, on the contrary, the girl said “I will not act against God’s will and marry you and you alone”. She finally succeeded to convince her family members and the marriage was solemnized. They have been blessed with two children – a son and a daughter.

The patient was admitted as a chronic case of “Polysubstance Use Disorder”and was managed with holistic treatment. His response to treatment has been good. He is now abstinent on maintenance therapy and is regularly visiting the centre for follow-up.

The patient came to know about a 3 years child from an adjacent village sharing experiences from his past life. When he met the child, he found that there were many similarities between the child and his elder brother who was killed in the accident. Also, the child narrated many instances about his brother which made him believe that the former was the reincarnation of his brother.

The patient kept on complaining that he is experiencing pain in the (amputated) right leg, which was the sign of Phantom phenomena. A phantom limb is the sensation that an amputated or missing limb is still attached to the body.

The patient is now leading a contended life, supported by an artificial limb. He is doing a job of a security guard and helping his family.

MS (name withheld), is a well-qualified boy; a Graduate in Humanities and an NCC Cadet having an athletic built. He is living happily with his family in his small village. But life wasn’t as beautiful for him as it is now. He had seizure while he was studying in grade VI. Later, he got hooked to drugs. A chill runs down his spine when he recalls his ‘addicted’ days.

A case of polysubstance abuse (zarda, alcohol, biri), he was admitted to Akal Drug De-addiction Centre, Cheema, District Sangrur, Punjab in mid-2011. He had a history of drug abuse and was earlier addicted to Zulfa, Lomotel and Bhuki since 2007. He got discharged after 4 months of treatment. But his journey as a drug abuser was horrific. Drug addiction led him to commit heinous crimes.

The patient attacked his father, an Ex-serviceman, with a knife and injured him critically. The reason, obviously, was his addiction to drugs and lack of impulse control. In fact, the patient was fed up with his father who regularly talked with other relatives about him being a spoilt adult with antisocial behaviour. Home atmosphere was disturbed and disharmonious as the son and the father were at daggers drawn with each other. As things turned from bad to worse, he brutally attacked his father. The father was rushed to hospital by the family members; timely medical intervention saved his life. After committing the crime, he himself surrendered at the local police station and had to face a legal case for his crime.

The patient’s elder brother was also addicted to Nicotine and was a case of schizophrenia. He, too, had a criminal past as he killed his sister in a fit of delusional rage and had undergone the legal processes. He was ultimately acquitted as he was found to be suffering from insanity (schizophrenia) when he committed the crime.

The patient (MS) is not taking any drugs now and is completely abstinent. He is running his petty business and is supporting his family financially. His father is a happy man now and the patient’s interpersonal relations with his family members are excellent.