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Treatment |
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Camp Approach - From Hospital based Treatment to Community Supported Recovery |
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We have been conducting free treatment camps in six locations in
Tamil Nadu since 1989. |
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Objectives |
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Providing treatment at the doorsteps of the villagers, tailoring it
to suit their needs. |
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Creating awareness about the problems associated with drinking and
transforming the community into an enabling force to combat
alcoholism. |
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Involving a host organisation |
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Requirements of the Host Organisation |
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Enjoys the trust and respect of the community |
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Willing to provide the basic infrastructure to run the camp |
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Willing to provide support to the patients during the follow-up
period |
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Prior to the Camp |
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To identify and motivate patients for treatment |
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To provide accommodation |
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During the Camp |
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To organise meals for the patients and staff |
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To mobilise support persons for patients |
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After the Camp |
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To act as support persons for patients and monitor their progress |
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To get patients for monthly follow-up |
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To provide help to deal with relapses |
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Key issues in organising camp programmes |
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Identifying alcoholics living in one specific area through multiple entry points - recovering patients of earlier camps, teachers, health workers, animators and relatives |
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Initiating the process of rehabilitation before the camp |
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Home detoxification |
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Dealing with medical problems |
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Motivating the client and the family to attend the camp programme |
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Treatment Programmes and their Duration |
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| Patients |
15 days |
| Family members |
10 days |
| Support persons |
2 hours |
| Local community |
1/2 day |
| Follow-up |
once a month for 12 months |
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Treatment Process |
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Treating physical problems associated with alcoholism (Medical support) |
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Strengthening belief in a higher power (Prayer) |
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Providing basic information about alcoholism (re-educative lectures) |
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Helping them to share the damage caused (Group Therapy) |
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Guiding them to develop short-term, long-term goals (Counselling) |
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Strengthening motivation by providing tips to stay sober (Sharing by recovering alcoholics) |
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Empowering the Community -
Making use of relatives and friends to support the patients in recovery |
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Maintaining the Momentum |
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Organising regular follow-up programmes |
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Organising celebration of sobriety birthdays to encourage their efforts |
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Conducting awareness programmes in the community |
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Key Findings |
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With minimal infrastructure quality care can be provided in villages at low cost. |
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Help is available at their doorstep, hence people are willing to accept it. |
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Therapy and treatment procedures are made relevant even to the illiterate villagers, hence it is appealing. |
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Disulfiram acts as a powerful support. |
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The entire community gets involved in the process. Responsibility of managing alcohol problem shared between the professionals and the community, leading to 'doing with' rather than 'doing for'. |
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Community understands the processes of alcoholism and recovery. Hence is
empathetic and willing to support treated patients in recovery. |
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For details please contact |
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EC 