To commemorate the international drug de-addiction and treatment day, Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh organised a caregiver awareness programme on substance use disorders.
Prof D Basu (consultant in-charge DDTC, PGIMER) highlighted the global perspective of the day and additionally spoke about the role of families in management of addictive disorders.
In the PGMER, experts are gradually seeing increase in number of substance users seeking treatment. Drug de-addiction and treatment centre of Department of Psychiatry caters to 20 inpatients and yearly average of more than 2,000 new outpatients. Recently there is an increasing trend of females visiting the treatment centres for substance use problems.
People who completed treatment successfully and living normal and productive life and contributing positively in society shared their experiences. The volunteers of self help groups Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous also shared their views.
Staff of the de-addiction centre also participated in the programme by providing health talks to the patients and their caregivers. Health Educational posters were displayed in the centre for patients and their caregivers. Approximately 150 people attended the session. Dr D Basu, Dr Subodh BN, Dr Mohit, and Manpreet Kaur answered queries of caregivers attending the health discussion.