A SUPPORT group dealing with drug abusers in Bahrain is hoping to reach out to convicted addicts in prisons and help them come out clean and remain so after their release.
A Bahraini businessman and one of the founders of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in the country believes regular weekly meetings would help prisoners and put them on the path to recovery.
“We wish people sentenced by courts in drug cases are allowed to attend our meetings as an alternative punishment; we can help addicts and give them a chance to be responsible and productive members of society,” he said.
The 63-year-old made the remarks while welcoming the government’s latest move to register NA’s Bahrain chapter with the Labour and Social Development Ministry. NA, located in Tubli, is registered under social and cultural associations and clubs.
“This recognition will improve our services to the public and families of youth affected by addiction by allowing us to carry the message more widely and freely to hospitals and institutions,” the Bahraini, who has proudly ‘lived a clean’ life for the last 37 years, told the GDN. “We will also be able to write freely about the experiences, strengths and hopes of NA members.”
NA International was founded in the US in July 1953 as a non-profit society of men and women who had become addicted to drugs and met on a regular basis to help each other stay clean.
The Muharraq resident, who runs a family business, founded the NA Bahrain chapter in March 1985, along with a small group of Bahrainis. Today, it has more than 100 members who regularly meet every week.
“There have been many challenges over these years and we aim to reach out to addicts across the Gulf who wish to come out clean,” he said.
NA Bahrain has been co-ordinating with societies, hospitals, schools and institutions to explain its motives.
“We are willing to help. If you have a problem with drugs and alcohol which you wish to stop, we are here,” he added.
“We welcome doctors, nurses and social workers to our open meetings as we believe they can carry the message to people about us.
“We are not professionals for rehabilitation, but we know how it is to be mired in addiction and we share our experiences.
“We bond with each other, offering strength and hope.”
A member of a well-known Bahraini family, he started drinking and consuming drugs at the age of 17. At 26, he underwent treatment at a centre in England and met a member of NA, where he said he ‘saw the light for the first time’.
“I remember the day I walked into the NA meeting, a bright room full of addicts, people who suffered like me. The difference was that they were living in hope as they were members of NA,” he said.
“They called themselves winners and I wanted to be like them, but was pessimistic.
“I wanted to quit (drugs) and build bridges between myself and my family who suffered because of my addiction.
“The group gave me hope and asked me to keep going back to their meetings – which I did.
“Subsequently I found myself a ‘sponsor’, a term in NA which refers to a mentor, friend and guide from within the group, who took me through the 12 steps of NA to come out clean.”
The Harley Davidson enthusiast, who loves music and plays the conga, said he was grateful to God as he could see his life ‘filling up with light’.
If you or someone you care for has a problem with drug addiction, call Narcotics Anonymous on 17533558 or 17530020.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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