Here is a story (bhutan observer) about doing something about a BIG problem in Bhutan. Alcoholism has killed so many people I know and I welcome AA in Bhutan. I’m not so sure about how effective it will be all round, but I am hoping for best:
Thimphu:13 July 2007 Karma Pem and Keshav Gurung, at the psychiatric ward in JDWNR hospital, were presented with gifts for abstaining from alcohol for more than a year last week. That was quite an achievement.
Karma Pem, who had been drinking for the past thirteen years, had lost her job and her children’s love. After one year and four months of sobriety, the broken parts of her life have started falling into place. “Now my children love me like they did before. Though jobless, I am optimistic about my future,” she said.
Keshav Gurung is also positive about his future and is planning to lead a happy family life. All thanks to a support group called “Alcohol Substance Abuse Abstinence Support Group,” or Chithoen Phuendey (general welfare) with the objective of advising people to stay away from alcohol and drugs, help each other in times of crisis and reach out to help other alcoholics and drug addicts. The association was formed by 19 alcoholics and a drug addict who are recovering.
Initially started with two addicts, the support group meets once a week in a place of their choice and discuss among themselves the strategies and methods to cope up with triggers, urges and craving for alcohol and drugs.
According to one of the members of the group, they also discuss how to cope up with withdrawal symptoms, support each other in times of need and enjoy each other’s company and have fun without indulging in substances. The group works to motivate addicts to go for detoxification and even psychiatric treatment to give up alcohol and drugs.
According to a spokesperson from the psychiatric department at JDWNR hospital, substance abusers, especially alcoholics, are given counselling and some tips on alcohol abstinence during their stay in the ward.
Pem Gyeltshen, the counsellor and coordinator of the group, said that they keep the patients engaged by not giving leisure time as boredom is one of the major factors. The recovering patients are kept engaged by organising picnics and gatherings with family and friends to get social support.
“They are also given assignments to alcohol-related subjects and are made to meet some of the alcohol liver disease (ALD) patients to see the difficulties they undergo,” he said. The group also monitors recovering addicts outside Thimphu through telephone.
Pem Gyeltshen also said that the members of the group are making efforts to encourage other alcoholics and drug addicts to become a member and motivate other addicts to abstain and avoid the urge to drink and take substances.
The group is supported by Save the Children with funding to meet the expenditure for organising meetings and programmes.
A website to assist alcoholics needing information and assistance is also being planned.