World Health Organization, WHO and the Psychiatric Associations have declared substance abuse, alcoholism and other addictions as a disease which has all the treatable symptoms for easy diagnoses and further management.
It is against this backdrop, that Hope De-Addiction, Substance Abuse and Recovery Center has organized and scheduled weekly Narcotics/Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings to assist victims of various kinds of addictions in Kaduna.
Director of the Centre, and Recovery Coach Mr. Andrew Dodo during the program, hinted that, substance abuse is the harmful use of psycho-active substances such as alcohol and illicit drugs that have negative health consequences on it users, and put heavy financial burdens on individuals, families and the society at large.
He said the meeting was targeted at providing assistance for those in need of recovery from substance use disorders and cannot afford going for in-patient treatment.
According to him, as part of its community engagement programs, the Centre also focused on evidence based counseling techniques such as motivational Interviewing to tackle cases of compulsive gambling, sex addictions, use of psycho- active substances, anger management and other clinically related issues.
He identified peer recovery support program, anger management, relapse prevention, and trauma informed care including compulsive gambling, and sex addiction among others as part of issues that were being handled at the Centre.
Mr. Andrew Dodo further pointed out that, in the area of mental illness including co- occurrence disorders, and other cases in need of in- patient treatment were always referrals are made to Neuro – Psychiatric Hospitals or other facilities for intensive care and management.
Some of the participants and one time victims of various kinds of addictions, called on those who are still suffering with the disease to always avail themselves at the Centre for their recovery programmes which they said were free of charge.
Earlier, the recovery coach noted that the program was aimed at building the capacity of women and youth on the need to prevent themselves from the menace of drugs and substance abuse, and to also assist those who are already hooked with the menace to get help through treatment.
Daniel Karlmarx
