Hundreds of alcoholics approach Dr. Kiran B. Nair for help every year. He has seen their worst sides. He knows how helpless they can get — which is why he insists, compassion, support and medical care, and not aversion and punishment, must guide society’s behaviour towards them.

By Shali Ittaman

ALCOHOL, like narcotic drugs, can wreck a person. Once addicted to it, he begins to lose his self-worth and his moorings; he becomes defeatist, ready even to throw himself off the edge — sometimes literally so!

 

Dr Kiran, who receives many such people at the Vaidya Health CareAyurveda Hospital in Kochi, Kerala, has heard their stories first hand. He confirms, many of them are depressive, and some, even suicidal.

Of late, however, stories in the media on drug addiction have overtaken the stories on alcoholism, mostly on the perception that alcoholism affects only the poor.

It is a false impression.

In fact, most of the patients at the Vaidya hospital are upwardly mobile, holding some sway in society. Anil Kumar, 40, who speaks here under an assumed name, is a case in point. He holds a job in a US health care firm, runs an affluent family, and appears quite sociable. Yet, he became the person to lose himself in drinks!

There are approximately six crore alcohol addicts in India,according to a survey conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Science, Delhi. Less than 3 percent of them get any treatment.

“Of course, one needs to read between the statistics here,” says Dr Kiran. “One needs to look at the medical resources committed to de- addiction programs. One also needs to look at the content of the programs .”

At the Vaidya hospital, for instance, alcohol de-addiction is a 21-day program. Patients come here to a very homely environment.

“We insist on creating comfort zones at the hospital,” Dr Kiran says. “The patients are trying to kick an addiction, which is no mean task! Medicines do play a key role in the rehab process. Equally, however, they need companionship, support and encouragement.”

Anil remembers his own experience. “Everything was explained to me in advance, so I knew exactly what to expect… They didn’t shove a pill down my throat, or put me in chains, or keep me confined to break my habit. Far from it!”

“Also, there was always someone or the other of the counselling staff around me to whom I could turn to if I wished to speak. That itself was helpful”.

What had happened to Anil

Anil’s friend had killed himself, which made Anil lonely and depressive. His wife, who works in Dubai, couldn’t be there to offer him solace.

The result: an occasional drinker became a tippler. “I would drink before start of work. I would drink during work breaks. I would drink at sign off…”

There came a point when he could no longer focus on work. Even his health  was  affected.  “I  couldn’t  recognise  the  man  in  the  mirror…,”  he says. “My weight had plummeted from 62 to 47 kilograms.”

Then, one day, abruptly, he quit drinking. It shocked his system, and he went into seizure. He was in hospital for several day, after which he submitted himself to rehab at the Vaidya hospital.

No room for complacency

Drink disorders are serious issues. There are several poor people who die, poisoned every year by arrack, hooch and other low end drinks. That is a problem by itself, says Dr Kiran. But it mustn’t mislead us into believing that alcoholism spares the blue label class, he says.

“In Malayalam there is a saying, Kudicha vayatil kedakanum. (Don’t let the drink smart outside the stomach.) That is easier said than done. Eventually, drinks do find a way to outsmart many.”

(Shali Ittaman was formerly an editor at Times of India, at Hindustan Times and at Press Trust of India. Copy written for the Features Division, Guru Daksha Consultancy Services).

Vaidya Health Care Hospital

MC Road,Vattakatupady

Perumbavoor,Ernakulam ,Kerala India 683542 

0091-9744-55-3000 , 484 2526259,2528008,  0091 9995922289

info@vaidyahealthcare.com