Recovered alcohol addicts speak at anti alcoholism conference

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 22, 2012: The District Information Department, Temperance Board of Bangalore, Janashikshana Trust, Balepuni GP, and SKDRDP organized an alcoholism awareness campaign and conference on the occasion of World Anti Drug Week on June 21, Thursday. A number of people who had recovered from alcoholism spoke about their experiences on this occasion.

Vishwanath Pai, an officer at Puttur LIC Division, spoke of how he was an alcoholic for nearly 15 years and how it almost ruined his life and forced him to contemplate suicide. He went on to relate that he attended a de-addiction camp organized by Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Alcohol De-addiction Centre, where he got de-addicted.

Taniya Koraga, who was an alcoholic for 12 years till a de-addiction camp changed his life for the better, said that his life was hell when he was an addict. Speaking on the occasion, his wife Kamala, member of the Maniyala GP, said that her husband’s alcoholism affected her chances of being elected as a GP member. But she won the election when her husband quit alcoholism.

Dr. K. N. Vijayaprakash, ZP CEO, said that women must keep an eye on men so that they do not fall victim to alcoholism. If ever they fall victim to alcoholism, de-addiction must be done at the earliest possible. He urged GPs to identify at least two alcoholics and bring them back to the mainstream.

Santhosh Kumar Rai, ZP member, inaugurated the event, and M. Chandrashekar Alva, president of Balepuni GP, presided. Ex alcoholics Taniya Koraga and Vishwanath Pai were felicitated on this occasion.

The children of DK ZP HP School, Balepuni presented a cultural show against alcoholism. Krishna Mooly and Sheena Shetty of Janashikshana Trust spoke on the occasion.

A group of amateur theatre artists, under the leadership of Mounesh Vishwakarma, the journalist, presented a play to create awareness on Sakaala.