Most of the rehabilitated drug addicts fail to get back into
the society because the society treats them as outcasts. Some of the addicts
admitted that though they had tried to get rehabilitated from the scourge but
to no avail as the society continued to snub and scorn them. They became
despondent as the community failed to accept them. Umul Baneen a senior year Psychology
student at Forman Christian College shared her interviews with drug addicts at
Fountain House and Bridge Rehabilitation Centre. (The names cannot be revealed
under the ethical and confidentiality terms.)
"The people in my locality don't like me, even my
neighbor hates me. My greetings are ignored and instead I only get a piece of
their mind. I have never been given the chance to prove myself and mingle with
the community for support. I ended up feeling disappointed and went back to my
old ways," said a 31 year old drug addict who has recently joined rehab
again to become sober."
Another recovering drug addict at Fountain House shared,
"I was 16 then and peers had introduced me to a man who
dealt in drugs. It started out as a casual thing, then I ended up trying other
drugs which led to addiction until now though I hope to change. When something
is stolen or goes missing, the first person that the villagers will accuse is
drug addicts like me, even after just being released from rehabilitation. Once
labeled an addict, no one will trust you anymore."
Though, a large number of drug addicts try hard to stop the
drug habit but society's unforgiving behavior drives them into confusion and
dependence on drugs bringing them in and out of rehabilitation centers. Many
deteriorate further and end up on the streets.
(Fountain House strictly guards the identity of its patients. Pictures and names cannot be disclosed because of confidentiality issues.)
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