Mumbai-based experts unravel the complexities of alcohol addiction

Ernest Hemingway Robin Williams Vincent Van Gogh The recently departed Matthew Perry is the latest name to join the list of prominent persons who battled substance addiction and alcoholism throughout their lifetime Starting as a teenager Perry battled alcoholism through his best years mdash leading to an intervention by his FRIENDS costars mdash before finally turning crusader against the disease In the course of his lifetime Perry attended over 6000 AA Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and sessions evidence of the extent to which the condition had a grip on himThe actor wrote about addiction in his bestselling memoir Friends Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing Pic CourtesyGetty ImagesAccording to the National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Abuse in India conducted in 2019 by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre NDDTC and All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi the country has 16 crore users of alcohol 57 crore people are classified as problem users while 29 crore people are classified as dependent usersAlcoholism in many formsWhile it was identified as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1956 alcoholism remains elusive to popular understanding This is due to its varied causes says Dr Harish Shetty psychiatrist and deaddiction expert LH Hiranadani Hospital Powai ldquoDepression bipolar disorders anxiety family history or even poverty and some professions can drive people to drinkrdquo he remarksArun KunchikorThis does not mean everyone who tastes alcohol is an addict ldquoThe difference is craving or dependence When someone suffers from withdrawal symptoms like tremors it is a sign The second sign is their high tolerance to alcohol They drink more to get a minimum highrdquo he notes Dr Shetty classifies them into problemdrinkers and alcoholics The first kind he says are prone to impulsive binges and can cause accidents or road rages The second type is steadier but depends on alcohol for normal functionalityLongterm solutionsWhile most alcoholics can recover at home with a supportive system around them a few require medical attention Arun Kunchikor director of Dharavibased NGO Arunodaya Foundation seconds this A recovered addict himself Kunchikor has worked in the field for 10 years ldquoIt is a lifelong disease You are never truly cured You are always fighting temptationrdquo he explains He recommends a minimum rehab period of nine monthsDr Harish ShettyldquoThe focus is to heal both the mind and body The first 20 days are devoted to helping their body recover with a course of vitamins regular health checkups and good healthy food Alcoholics often sacrifice their nutrition for the drinkrdquo he says The remaining period is to help them selfanalyse and work their way back to social acceptance Dr Shetty adds ldquoEvery alcoholic is different The same yardstick of treatment cannot be applied to all You must adopt a horsesforcourses approach with themrdquoAcceptance is the keyThrough it all acceptance remains vital It is important for friends and families to accept the victim despite their problems The support of his wife and family was key to Kunchikorrsquos recovery he admits This can be difficult today says Dr Shetty ldquoPersonal contact has gone down This is where groups like Alcoholics Anonymous step in The first thing is to eschew stigma and speak about your problem openlyrdquo he remarksAs for slipups they are inevitable The psychiatrist says ldquoAnyone who has recovered has had several relapses You cannot abuse or disown them for that The trouble is that it is very difficult for loved ones and family to trust someone with alcohol dependency issues This is where their support can be crucialrdquoYet despite it all there is always that one slip As the late American actor Robin Williams once said ldquoIt lays in wait for the time when you think lsquoItrsquos fine now Irsquom OKrdquo The battle is a long one Perhaps Perry knew it better than mostCase studyI first started drinking at the age of 18 It made me feel invincible and helped to hide my anxiety I was soon drawn to people with similar lifestyles When people talked I would dismiss it At 28 I realised there was a problem For instance Perry was found out by his costars He could hide it only for some time Likewise my clients began to notice it My hands would tremble when I didnrsquot drink for a day Signing a cheque became a task I drank to function normallyA social intervention or a peer group of recovering alcoholics can help victims identify and understand their situation betterThey say an alcoholic takes a drink then the drink takes a drink then the drink takes the alcoholic There have been days when I have woken up without any memory of the previous night AA helps because no one talks down to you An alcoholic is judged everywhere else People either dislike them or pity themAt AA when you hear members speak it resonates with your own struggles I have relapsed but I somehow found my way Sponsors that you identify with and can confide in at any time of the day or night can help When you are struggling speaking with someone who has gone through the same phase helps tremendously Irsquove been sober for 30 yearsOllie 69 AA member BandraTrain your mindgtgt Analyse the patterns of your alcoholismgtgt Evenings are most challenging for alcoholics Keep yourself occupied to avoid distractionsgtgt Avoid any routes that offer you access to drinks Travel by roads or highways that donrsquot have bars on the routegtgt Throughout the recovery period travel or attend events with someone who can prevent a relapsegtgt Join counselling activities in your officegtgt Confide in someone you respect and trust mdash family friends doctor spiritual gurus or a peerHelplines to reach outgtgt Alcoholics Anonymous IndiaAt Ghatkopar Wadala Andheri East Thane and other locationsCall 9224737883 Ghatkopar 9821234577 Thanegtgt Arunodaya FoundationAt Rajiv Gandhi Nagar DharaviCall 9136187427gtgt New Life Group St Peterrsquos ChurchAt Ranwar Bandra WestCall 9833120436