Actors enact a scene from a play to create awareness on drug abuse at Kalakshetra auditorium on Tuesday. Picture by UB Photos

June 26: “I lost 15 years of my life to drug addiction and from a young professional I was reduced to the streets,” said Simanta, a former drug addict, who has been rehabilitated.

“I tried all means possible to save my son who was addicted to drugs; but I lost him forever nearly two years ago. I know how much pain he endured during his struggle with addiction,” lamented M. Hazarika, father of an addict.

The plight of victims of drug addiction came alive when some of them came forward to share their painful experiences during a programme organised on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by the social welfare department and the Assam State AIDS Control Society today.

Although it was a long struggle and Simanta lost out on several things, he finally managed to win his tough battle. He had got hooked to various forms of drugs during his college days in Shillong. Although he later managed to get a job and even got married, he could not give up his addiction.

“Drug addiction made my professional and personal life a living hell. All the money I earned was spent in procuring drugs as I could not live without it. I could not take care of my wife and young daughter and tired of the circumstances, they left me. My craving for drugs had increased to such an extent that I sold my property and lived in the Guwahati railway station for six months. Many times I even thought of ending my life,” said Simanta.

However, he decided to embrace life instead and approached a rehabilitation centre in the city. After medical assistance and counselling, he succeeded in giving up his addiction. “I hope that no one falls into the trap of drug addiction like me because it is extremely tough to cope with it. I thought normal people missed out on the feeling of ecstasy generated by drugs, but now I know how wrong I was,” said Simanta.

Similar was the case of Hazarika, who had to watch helplessly as his son battled his addiction. His son started taking drugs while in college, but since the awareness level about addiction in those days was minimal, he never knew about his son’s condition in the earlier stage of addiction. It was only through a family doctor that he discovered it.

“My wife and I tried all means possible to de-addict our son. We took him to de-addiction centres and hospitals across the country for treatment. Even in Guwahati we kept him in different de-addiction centres so that he can quit. It was painful to see him ailing. I understood the inner struggle he was enduring every moment. But despite our best efforts, we could not save him. During Bihu about two years ago, we found him motionless in the morning and he never woke up again. He died after six months of his mother’s death,” said Hazarika, breaking down.

“I can just say that drug addiction destroys the peace and happiness of many innocent lives. If we do not join hands against it, many more lives will be lost in future,” said Hazarika.

Additional chief secretary to the state government, P.P. Verma, who was present on the occasion, said, “We have to have stricter laws to deal with drug abuse. Many adolescents are getting into substance abuse and they even steal things and sell them in order to earn a few bucks to buy narcotics. I also request the social welfare department and the Society to introduce a helpline where responsible citizens can report about instances of drug sale and abuse.”