At the observation of the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, Khyuchamo Ezung, Technical Specialist for the North East Technical Support Unit/National AIDS Control Organization shared his story as a recovering drug addict who has been clean and sober for the last 17 years.
Ezung who started using drugs at a young age began with curiosity and peer pressure.
“My first encounter with drugs started with what we call gateway drugs that include tobacco, alcohol and later went on to hard drugs. I never used drug to become a bad person, ruin my career, spoil relationship or lend into troubles. Initially I was managing with my pocket money but as my disease progressed from bad to worse, life became unmanageable,” said Ezung who went on the extend of 'beg, borrow and steal' to support his drug abuse.
He along with his family attempted to help him quit but nothing could help. Ezung then started experiencing withdrawals and craving where the vicious cycle of drug abuse continued.
“I started to believe that I will also die like my other friends, either through drug overdose or will be shot by UGs. A ray of hope came through some recovering friends who introduced me to a drug rehabilitation center. In the rehab I was taught that I was neither a bad person nor a mad person but I was just sick which can be treated provided I was willing to go to any extend for my recovery,” said Ezung. In the six month rehabilitation course, Ezung was trained to ‘cope with situations the way they are, worked on his character building and accept life the way it is without drug and alcohol’.
Following his treatment, Ezung went for a residential counsellor training course and completed his Bachelor in Social Work. Later on he completed his Master in Social Work and Masters in Public Administration.
Ezung also suggested two issues to deal with drug abuse. First is the importance of listening where Ezung pointed out that parents must give time and listen to their children. Secondly, Ezung requested the law enforcing agency to view drug addiction ‘not only as a crime, but as a public health issue and coordinate with NGOs working in demand reduction and hard reduction and provide treatment option’.
(MExN)
