Network for Peer led Drug and Alcohol Prevention

Published in Contemporary Social Work Vol. XVII. April, 2000 TRAINING OF RECOVERING ADDICTS AS PEER SUPPORT EDUCATORS : AN INDIAN EXPERIENCE SUNEEL VATSYAYAN* T.K. THOMAS** Navjyoti or “New light” emerged in 1987 as a step towards crime prevention. The idea originated from its dynamic founder, the Magasaysay Award recipient Dr. (Mrs.) Kiran Bedi I.P.S. Navjoyti Delhi Police Foundation for correction,De-addiction and Rehabilitation , a non-governmental, non-profit and voluntary organisation is primarily engaged in the efforts to treat and rehabilitate addicts and offer comprehensive programmes for co-dependents (family members of the drug addicts). From make-shift drug treatment centres in six police stations in North Delhi till 1990, Navjyoti today has become a full fledged drug treatment and rehabilitation centre. For Navjyoti it has been a decade of trials, challenges tears, smiles and above all learning. The dedicated band of trained workers, counsellors, yoga e...

Suneel Vatsyayan presided over the function  District Welfare officer Delhi Govt. was honored on this occasion  Family  members of addicts and  and community leaders participated in the discussion and shared their views 

Peer Action Network for trauma-related to drugs, HIV/AIDS, violence and crime Drug abuse has been prevalent in our society for long. Excessive usage of drugs leads to addiction and increased dependency on them, apart from causing physical ailments. The extent and usage of drugs spans from rural population to the urban, from defence to prison population and from adolescents to the aged. Drug consumers range demographically, socially, economically and in gender as well. In spite of various awareness programmes by Govt. and NGOs indicating the repercussions on an individual and society, drug abuse continues to plague our society as a disease and the path to recovery for the addicted is full of hurdles. Relapse is a step which no one can evade during the recovery process. For any recovering person, motivation and guidance are the two major pre-requisites. And who other than peer group can fulfil this requirement more effectively and efficiently. Peer based initiatives It is so because o...

Mr.Bharat Bhushan ,Mr.Balwan and Sunil attended One month training course on "Drug Abuse Prevention" organised by Regional Resource &Training Center North, in partnership with National Institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India from 19th Oct. to 17th Nov., 2010 at SPYM Centre, New Delhi.Dr.Ajay Vats,Ms.Pallavi and Suneel Vatsyayan of Nada India delivered an interactive session and demonstration on Barrier Free Services and use of peer education and ear acupuncture in drug treatment and rehabilitation.They also listed the problems and challenges faced by them during running peer led rehabilitation of drug drug addiction in Delhi and Haryana. This training course was to enhance the capacity of peer led service providers of NGOs working in the area of drug demand reduction in order to enable them to implement the program in efficient and effective manne r.

Over 25 peer led de-addiction centres spread over the length and breadth of Haryana met in Rohtak on Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 and resovled to work toghther to improve treatment and long term recovery of people affected by drug and alcohol addiction. The Haryana NGO Network for Peer Led Drug & Alcohol Prevention has 43 members. Peer Led initiatives are popular all over the world in addressing problems like addiction. The fundamental concept behind it is that the management of rehabilitation of addicts is done by recovering drug & alcohol addicts.It has been accepted by various countries and international agencies that the effectiveness of counseling by peers or those who have gone through the similar regiours and pain of addiction to better suited to change other addicts. Mr.Satyamohan of Nai Disha was elected as President and Mr.Bharat Bhushan of NaiKiran De-addiction center as founding member & General Secretary of the Network. Network meeting further resolved to work t...