Sion hospital sees a rush for de-addiction

Harneet Singh (name changed) is a truck driver and opium addict since 2005. But the 28-year-old now wants to kick the habit.

So, what does he do? He lands up at LTMG Sion hospital's psychiatry department to get Qudict, the drug used for de-addiction. Singh is not alone. There are many like him queueing up at the hospital for the drug. In fact, doctors say 30-40 addicts visit the hospital every week. Before Ganesh festival, it used to be 4-5 a month.

"In the last one month, we have had 250 patients. This has never happened before," says Dr Nilesh Shah, head of the psychiatry department.

So much so, the hospital, which used to distribute the drug only on Saturdays earlier, is now supplying it everyday.

What exactly is happening? Shah has the answer. "Almost 95% addicts are truck drivers. With opium prices going up 10 times – from Rs 10 per gram to Rs 100 per gm – many can't afford it. Also, with narcotics department getting stricter, addicts are getting sub-standard quality." The average opium consumption of truck drivers vary from 10- 50 gm.

Another reason for the rush for de-addiction is religious. Most of the addicts are also Sardars. "Some of them say their priests have asked them to undergo de-addiction and warned them about how opium is bad for health and for family," said Dr Shah.

Opium addiction is very common among truck drivers as they feel it helps them keep awake and feel good. This addiction among truck drivers is one major cause of road accidents.