Alcohol abuse and alcoholism is becoming more and more common in Ladakh. To address the problem in Ladakh, an organisation has set up the Leh’s first alcohol de-addiction centre. It is run by Medical Social Service Association in collaboration with Mahabodhi, the centre started operations this year in March.

The centre is located in Mahabodhi Karuna Hospital, where counsellors and psychologists guide them to participate in activities such as indoor games and engage in conversations with each other.

District Medical Health Program Officer Dr. Iqbal Ahmad is supervising the implementation of the programme at the centre. 

Dr. Tashi Thinless, Physician who is also the Vice President of MSSA, said that the problem of Alcohol was there in our society from many years but nobody took any concrete intervention to solve the problem. “To prevent, control, de-addict and then rehabilitation is what we are doing at the centre”, said Dr Thinlay.  He added, “It is the social responsibility of everyone in the society to stop the problem of alcohol.”

‘We took up the cause as alcohol abuse has become rampant in the society and what is worrisome is the number of youth are indulging into it,’ Tashi Wangchuk, said, Gen Secy. of Medical Social Service Association.

There are ten people in the centre and this is the first session. The first session was for three months starting from March to May. The de-addiction centre tries to indulge the patients in real-life activities such as interactive session, prayers, teachings, yoga and indoor games. Three members have joined recently. All of them are volunteers. 

Alcohol addiction is a serious problem and what is known outside is only a fraction of the real situation. While there is no cure, there is ample scope for arresting the habit.

The problem is alcoholism has a social taboo attached and most people don’t seek help.

 

“We are planning to keep the drug addicts in the future as most of the youths are addicted to drugs and there are many cases in Ladakh, said Tashi Wangchuk. 

  

Tashi said, "We all as a member of the society are responsible and all should participate. I have been associated with patients for more than 30 years. And many patients are alcohol addicts and many deaths are due to alcohol only in Ladakh which is really unfortunate for us." 

“Alcohol is a very big problem in the Ladakhi society and this is the root cause of many evils like crimes and accidents.  Alcohol affects everyone in the Family. There are many misconceptions about alcohol among the people & we have to create awareness among them."

Alcohol addiction is an insidious disease, one that slowly begins to unravel the fabric of the family as well as the society and create a mess that takes many to fix.