Cycle of drug abuse breakable with a little understanding

http://en.youth.cn 2006-06-26 10:43:16

The reasons why someone starts taking drugs may vary, but the final outcome is a process that begins with occasional drug taking, and ends with the consumption of excessive amounts of drugs.

Like a computer that is attacked with a virus, you will never get rid of it until the hardware disc is reprogrammed. And the virus may come back anytime when your anti-virus software fails to update.

In Shanghai, the recovery process outside the rehab center lasts as long as three years, with 12 urine tests to prove the person in recovery has stayed clean.

It is during this period of time that the services and props of the social workers are fundamentally important.

"My understanding of drug addiction, treatment and recovery process helps me do my job better," said Wang Junhao, a 56-year-old anti-drug social worker at Huangpu Station of Shanghai Ziqiang Social Service Council.

Two years ago, Wang took his post at Jinglin sub-district of Huangpu, with a list of 81 clients in the community.

Since then he has visited his clients in their homes and accompanied them to the hospital for urine tests.

However, neither of these tasks is by any means easy, as many of the clients refuse to be "saved." Some do not answer the calls; some refuse to open their doors; and others hide away when the day comes for their urine tests.

Xiao Lu was such a person, but Wang was never annoyed.

Instead, he talked with Lu's grandpa each time he visited.

He asked about Lu's health, explained his good intentions and explained the necessity of proper treatment.

Wang said: "To work with those in recovery, we need be very patient with their struggle until they are willing to turn their lives around."

One day, Lu came to him. He said he was persuaded to cooperate because his grandpa believed Wang was the one who could help. Signs and symptoms showed that Lu had relapsed back into drug use. "I am such a failure," Lu said, shivering with cold.

Without attributing blame, Wang held him in his arms and helped him to relax.

From then on, Lu stopped hanging out with his drug-taking friends and became a regular visitor at the station.

With Wang's help, he not only developed refusal skills, but also found new meaning to his life. He even took his cousin who also abused drugs to Wang for recovery treatment.

"A trusting social worker-client relationship is a central aspect of social work intervention, contributing to positive case resolutions." Wang said. "And this is built on mutual respect and love."

These two years, nothing has made Wang happier than hearing news that another of his clients has walked out of drug depression and turned their lives around.

With his help, about half of Wang's clients have gone through significant changes in their lives.

As a representative for all the anti-drug social workers from the 19 Stations of Shanghai Ziqiang Social Service Council, Wang is now in Beijing for the "2005 Top Ten Anti-drug Civilian Award."

Zhou Zheng, Chief Executive of SZSSC, said with pride: "We always believe drug abusers can be changed. All we need to do is adopting professional methods to assist them embrace the meaning of life again. And that's the value of being a social worker."

According to statistics from the Shanghai Municipal Anti-drug Commission, the accumulated registered number of drug addicts totaled 24,195 in the city by the end of 2004.

Zhou said SZSSC is ready to expand its current drug prevention services, such as offering an anti-drug hotline service, anti-drug website, psychological consulting, and volunteer development, etc.

Wang Li, a 56-year-old clinical psychologist, is a volunteer worker attached to Minhang Station. He said with great concern: "About 60 percent of drug addicts come from troubled families. What I am doing is to give them the key to find their own troubles and to establish their own worth because all drug users have to depend on their own strength to begin their new lives."

Lian Weizhang, a 56-year-old patrol policeman, is a volunteer worker attached to Pudong Station. "Taking off my uniform, I am the old uncle to the drug addicted kids within my community," Lian said with a smile.

"These kids are prone to drugs, thefts and crimes. What I am doing is spending time with these kids and showing them the positive sides of society."

By last December, more than 8,000 people had become volunteers, recruited by SZSSC to help with the anti-drug campaign.

Among them are doctors, teachers, psychological consultants, college students and so on. When everyone knows about drugs, people will find it easier to just say no to drugs.

Editor's note:

What's more terrible for parents than the fact that so many youngsters are addicted to drugs?

China's latest report on drug addiction and prevention, released over the weekend, shows that 69 percent of the country's heroin abusers are under the age of 35, and that 89 percent of the 785,000 drug addicts are hooked on heroin.

Jobless people make up 52 percent, the second largest group of drug addicts.

While many other factors are important as well, the report serves as a clear warning that our society should pay more attention to the health of young people and especially those who have no job.

Drug abuse is never a stand-alone issue. It is about how people live and value their lives.

source : Shanghai Daily 　　 editor:： WuLin