Public Health Empowerment And Research Organization(PHERO) aims at relieving the poor people from the clutches of alcoholism and other forms of addiction through indoor treatment, outdoor service, counseling, community based awareness programme etc.
Most patients are youths or belong to the lower strata of society. Drug use is an illness, a disease that has an adverse effect on the addicts’ families also. Lack of awareness, along with the social stigma attached to addiction, prevents people from coming forward. These people do not know whom to turn to for help. Out of all the addicts, only about 2% actually come for treatment, that too after 5 to 6 years of being alcohol or drug dependent. The government de-addiction centers are vacant, as people do not come forward. This is where volunteers of the Art of Living make a difference.
Many of the addicts are approached through the women of their families. Women suffer a lot because of drug addiction, as they are subjected to mental & physical abuse. 80% of the crimes are committed when the criminals are drunk. Addiction is detrimental to the addict’s health and severe addiction is fatal too. These drugs are easily available but are so costly that the addicts are forced to steal money, first from their family members and friends, and later from others. Since the drugs cause dependency, it is very difficult to get rid of them even if the addict wishes to do so. Drug addicts become a nuisance to the family and to the society. Many youngsters are drug addicts.