Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 13: A PR event, ‘Proud To Be Drug Free' with a motive to spread the message and bring awareness about the harmful effects from narcotics/drug addiction, organised by the department of Journalism in association with Narcotics Anonymous here was held on September 12 at Eric Mathias Hall of St Aloysius College (Autonomous).
Raj and Rahul (name changed for identity purpose on their request) were the two speakers from Narcotics Anonymous. Fr Dr Melwyn S Pinto, HOD of the department of Journalism was chief guest for the programme. Fr Dr Melwyn Pinto, in his speech, asked the students to stay away from drugs because it is nearly impossible to get out of addiction and also too late when they realise and seek to change. He spoke about how common it is to find drugs these days but the decision to take or not is in the hands of the students.
Raj said, “I was a drug addict once, but I am recovering now. Addiction starts either because of peer pressure or because of pleasure factor. It starts as a great thing, but as time passes, the dosage to hit the same level of 'high' goes on increasing. The obsessive and compulsive behaviour starts to show and the individual is completely at loss. I did not believe in heaven and hell before, but addiction taught me that there is hell because I was living in one. I want to share my experience and tell people that not all is lost, there is still hope. If I can do it, you can too. Narcotics Anonymous gave me an identity which others did not give. I have been to hospitals, rehabilitation centers and jails, where I have been termed as a patient, an addict and a criminal,but Narcotics Anonymous helped me overcome my addiction when I had hit rock bottom.”
Rahul said, "I had become a stray dog to my family, shoved and kicked away from home and mostly seen only at nights because facing people during the day was a hard task. I wanted to come out of my addiction, so I went to a doctor who gave me medication which had sedatives. I took pills and smoked. Now I was a victim of two addictions. I also started to steal and beg for money when withdrawal symptoms started to kick in. Nothing I tried seemed to help. I heard about Narcotics Anonymous, a renowned worldwide non-profit community-based organization based on spiritual principles of honesty, faith, hope, acceptance and love. Narcotics Anonymous conducts meetings in public facilities which enables addicts to identify and help each other to learn to stay away from mood-altering drugs including alcohol. Anyone can walk in and join them regardless of age, sex, caste, colour, gender, religion or lack of religion. The only requirement for membership in Narcotics Anonymous is to have a desire to stop using drugs. It has helped me in ways unexplainable and can help others too.”
Bhavya Shetty and Swetha Mangalath along with the students of journalism were present for the session.
Nisha Fernandes compered the programme while Zulfa Mysoon proposed the vote of thanks.