Hope Trust for freedom from drugs and alcohol

KOLKATA, 11 JUNE: Hope Trust ~ a rehabilitation centre for the treatment of alcohol and drug addicts ~ is looking forward to opening a centre at Kolkata, for which it seeks affiliations and collaborations.

"The rehabilitation centre in Hyderabad has been getting a significant number of clients from West Bengal and the north-eastern states, so we thought about a centre in Kolkata. We estimate that drug abuse is more in Kolkata as it is close to the North East." said Mr Rahul Luther, founder of Hope Trust at the press meet held today in Kolkata.

"We are looking for someone who does not only look at it as a business but also has a will to change people." added Mr Luther in regard to the collaborations and affiliations he is seeking.

Mr Luther has also planned to come up with centres in other parts of the country like Gujarat, Punjab and Ahmedabad, but he does not entertain the idea of franchisees. "At one time, we increased the number of beds to 50 from 30 and found that the attention given to individual addicts was not enough. As long as I can help 30 addicts and they in turn refer us to others, we are happy," he said.

At Hope Trust, clients are gradually taught to lead a disciplined and healthy lifestyle through a holistic recovery program. The Family Support Program  provides constructive resolutions and continuous care for the whole family.

"Like diabetes, addiction cannot be cured but only controlled. Certain people are prone to addiction. Even after rehabilitation, an individual has to keep himself in check as he suffers the risk of relapse." Mr Luther explained.

De-addiction, he said, is a combination of three processes ~ biological (genetic), psychological (mind) and social (environment). The rehab process also calls for cooperation from the family of an addict.

According to the World Health Organisation, 10 per cent of the population is prone to addiction. "But there are only a handful of de-addiction centres in India and there is none to cater to the middle class or upper middle class, that wouldn't mind paying for the treatment" says Mr Luther .

"Since addiction affects all areas of the addict's life, the treatment at Hope Trust addresses physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects. The program incorporates the WHO-approved 12 steps and is based on Yoga and meditation. There is competent medical and psychiatrics back-up," said Ms Raisa Luther, addiction therapist at Hope Trust.

Hope Trust is based on the protocol of the renowned Minnesota Model initiated in USA.

statesman news service