Network for Peer led Drug and Alcohol Prevention

विपिन शर्मा की रिकवरी, शिक्षा और पीयर-लीडरशिप की यात्रा लेखक: विपिन शर्मा अध्यक्ष, Ankush Foundation | State Level Coordination Agency (SLCA), Haryana हाल ही में प्रधानमंत्री के मन की बात में नशामुक्ति की राह पर आगे बढ़ रहे युवाओं को “real warriors” कहकर संबोधित किया गया। यह केवल प्रशंसा के शब्द नहीं हैं। यह उस संघर्ष की सामाजिक पहचान है, जिसे नशे से उबरने वाला व्यक्ति, उसका परिवार और उसका समुदाय लंबे समय तक साथ लेकर चलते हैं। लेकिन सवाल यह है— क्या नशामुक्ति केवल दवा, डॉक्टर और उपचार से पूरी हो सकती है? हाल ही में Hindustan Times में प्रकाशित किरण बेदी के लेख “Why addiction strategy demands social overhaul” ने इसी सवाल को सामने रखा। लेख का मूल संदेश स्पष्ट है: दवा उपचार का हिस्सा हो सकती है, लेकिन दीर्घकालिक रिकवरी परिवार, साथियों, सार्थक काम, स्थिर रिश्तों और ऐसे समुदायों पर भी निर्भर करती है जो व्यक्ति को उम्मीद और अपनापन देते हैं। मेरी अपनी जिंदगी इस बात की एक छोटी-सी मिसाल है। मैं कभी मदद लेने वाला व्यक्ति था मेरी रिकवरी की शुरुआत उस समय हुई जब मेरे जीवन में नशे का प्रभ...

Why Recovery Requires More Than Punishment “Wives ,sisters and mothers do not always seek punishment; often, they seek treatment because they fear losing someone they love to addiction.” The recent remarks by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, where he shared that families had asked authorities to arrest their own children to save them from drugs, reveal the depth of helplessness many families are experiencing today. Indian Express Report At first glance, such statements may appear harsh. But beneath them lies a painful reality: many families are not demanding punishment — they are desperately searching for intervention before addiction destroys another life. Addiction Is Not Only a Law-and-Order Issue Over the years, while working in addiction recovery, behavioral health, and rehabilitation settings, one observation repeatedly emerges: Addiction rarely affects only the individual. It affects: families, relationships, neighborhoods,...

Nada India Foundation, with its commitment to peer-led interventions, is working to integrate the TB Mukt Bharat campaign into peer-led drug rehabilitation centers. This initiative acknowledges the double challenge faced by people living with addiction—where tobacco use is often underestimated compared to illicit drugs, despite its significant role in increasing vulnerability to tuberculosis (TB) infection. By bringing TB awareness, screening, and prevention strategies into these centers, Nada India aims to address the critical gap in health services for individuals struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs). The approach focuses on: Peer-led TB Awareness: Educating individuals in rehabilitation about the risks of tobacco and drug use in TB transmission. Early Screening & Linkages: Ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment of TB among people in recovery. Tobacco & Drug Cessation Support: Strengthening rehabilitation programs to include integrated cessation strategies for both...

  Reflecting on Navjyoti’ s impactful journey and the legacy of its UNODC project, I’m inspired by how it brought together experts and communities to create transformative change. Yesterday, with Anuj and over 120 participants, I revisited these milestones, realizing their relevance today—especially as Nada India continues this mission, addressing how #TB and #NCDs disproportionately impact drug users. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how peer-led initiatives like these can be a learning opportunity for psychiatric social workers and public health professionals. Let’s also shine a light on the vital role of peer counselors in bridging service gaps and creating sustainable solutions. Your insights mean a lot to me. Join the conversation! Let’s explore how these stories can inform and inspire our collective work for healthier communities.  vsuneel@gmail.com 

It has been nearly eight years since the decision to enforce liquor prohibition in Bihar. According to some reports, this policy has resulted in a decline in domestic violence cases within the state. Additionally, millions of residents have benefited from avoiding obesity and associated health risks. However, the dark side of prohibition cannot be ignored. It has led to the rampant production and sale of counterfeit and spurious liquor. Cases of toxic liquor consumption have increased, leading to fatalities. Liquor smuggling incidents have also risen significantly. In Siwan, four individuals fell critically ill on Thursday after consuming toxic liquor. Tragically, one of them passed away, while another lost their eyesight. The remaining individuals are still under medical care. The Nitish Kumar government continues to face criticism for the unchecked availability of liquor in the state despite prohibition. The Patna High Court recently reprimanded the Bihar government and questioned ...

Neha CWC member shared her son's aspirations to become Prime Minister to ban tobacco, shedding light on the need to strengthen tobacco control laws. Recommendations included raising the legal age for tobacco consumption to 21 and enforcing stricter regulations around educational facilities. Sumit Prakash   Chairperson , CWC, Purnia , Bihar Suneel& Sumit The recent training workshop in the  Nipccd Delhi  Conference Hall on the Role of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in addressing substance use among children in Bihar, organized by @NIPCCD_MWCD, witnessed a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences. The blog highlights key discussions and notable moments during the event. Diving into Current Initiatives: Led by Suneel Vatsyayan, a seasoned life coach and trainer, the Nada India Foundation workshop delved into the existing efforts undertaken by the CWC to address substance abuse among children. Participants shared both success stories and challenges encountered, underscor...

In the dynamic landscape of drug demand reduction and prevention, the emergence of practicing social workers as leaders has transitioned from a rarity to the new norm. This paradigm shift is not only reshaping policies but also contributing significantly to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . Late Dr. Hira Singh, a practicing social worker, exemplified this shift by leading the National Institute of Social Defence, a premier institution under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Ministry itself has been a pioneer in bringing social work practitioners to the forefront, culminating in the current leadership of NISD being a practicing social worker. Navjyoti ,Delhi Police Foundation for Correction, De- addiction & Rehabilitation   under the leadership of Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, showcased the potential of practicing social workers in the field of drug rehabilitation. His pioneering efforts introduced the Acudetox movement nationwide , bringing tog...

Showcasing the goodwill of Nada Young India Network under the mentorship of Nada India Foundation to create a healthier Tobaccofree India! The video celebrates the motivation of volunteers to be change makers, acting as catalysts promoting a healthier active lifestyle and supporting the government to reduce tobacco use among minors and adolescents ! #NadaIndiaFoundation #NYIN #youth4tobaccofreeindia #tobaccofreeindia

Draft:  “Delhi Substance use Disorder Treatment, Counseling and Rehabilitation Centres rules,2018 by Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Health and Family Welfare Department) Comments and Observations by  Suneel Vatsyayan ,   Executive board member of  National Association ofProfessional Social workers in India ,  http://napswi.org/ Founding board member,Healthy India Alliance  .Chairperson,  Nada India Foundation www.nadaindia.info   General comments The proposed rules are long awaited and state intervention was certainly required to respond to the demand of the drug and alcohol in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The framing of these rules will help NGOs to contribute in the task of Government making Delhi healthy and drug free. There have been various initiatives by volunteers (recovering addicts) addressing the problem of drug and bridging the gap in service delivery at community level in the last three decades. The a...

Heady childhood Marijuana addiction is coming out of universities and into schools with children as young as 11 experimenting with it Veenu Sandhu  March 19, 2016 "Doctor, have you tried marijuana?" "No" "Then how do you know it is bad?" Brahmdeep Sindhu, senior psychiatrist at the Civil Hospital in Gurgaon, was stumped when a 14-year-old from a prominent school threw this question at him. "The child then went to great lengths, quoting blogs he had read on the internet, to convince me why he, many of his classmates and some of his juniors, children as young as 12, thought it was harmless, even beneficial, to smoke up." Every month, 15 to 20 new cases of schoolchildren, boys and girls, are brought by their parents to Sindhu for counselling. They are all hooked to cannabis: often marijuana (the leaf of the plant) and sometimes hashish (extracted from the plant's resin). Far away from Gurgaon, in the fields past Navi Mumbai, childre...