I’M SOLOMON YIMCHUNGER – A RECOVERING DRUG ADDICT

I started using drugs from my high school life, initially with alcohol, ganja and SP occasionally. Not knowing and thinking the consequences of what would happen to me and without any awareness that these addictive substances would tarnish my beautiful youth life, I started using them for my pleasure and did not know how and when to stop.  Eight years of my precious life was wasted and I realized that I am becoming weak every day physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. Every time I wanted to give up drugs I ended up having more and wanting have more.  It was at the inspiration of Fr. Thomas Muttathil, the then Principal of Little Flower School, Pungro, that I got admitted in Shalom Rehabilitation Centre. I had decided to change my way of life and wanted to commit myself to God and also became aware my own inability to stop it without the help of treatment.

In April 2004, I was admitted at Shalom. During my initial period, it was very hard for me to give up my desire to have more dose and bad habits as well as to adjust with my new inmates. But after few days the inmates became very friendly and it was like one family indeed. I felt very comfortable in shalom rehab centre as it is an information centre, life transformation centre through the various awareness programs, gospel teachings of Jesus Christ. I praise our Almighty God for giving me new life through Shalom. I thank Fr. Mathew Thuniampral, the then Director Sisters, Shri Longshio Yanthan Counselor for upholding me in their prayers, supporting and making me a changed person. I also thanked my family members for supporting me financially, physically, morally and upholding me in their prayers and encouragement. Through all your support, now I’m living a sober life for five years presently.  I thank Fr. Joe Mariadhas, the present director for his support whenever I visit Shalom, Sisters and the Counsellors.

SOLOMON R YIM. IBAPWO

PUNGRO TOWN

NCHUMBEMO

I’m Nchumbemo a recovering addict, by the grace of God and through the help of my recovering friends I’ve been clean and sober for nine (9) years.

I was brought up in a broken family. Due to which I started using drugs in the year 1988, while I was studying in class 8, Don Bosco School, Wokha. I had been using drugs for eight years. During my active using days and in supporting my addiction I often landed up in jail, caught by the undergrounds, warned by the society, kicked out from the school and at home the relationship between me and my parents were always in turmoil. In the end, I lost everything and became helpless. I tried many times to stay off from the choice of my chemical but I could hardly stay away for 2 to 3 days. One day a recovering friend of mine came to my house and shared about his life experience and I was really touched and moved. Through him I was introduced to Shalom Rehabilitation Center at Chumukedima in the year 1998.

By God’s grace and with the help of my recovering friends I completed the treatment and returned home. In order to protect myself I volunteered to help at the Detox center in Wokha and I rendered my service for seven years by referring the clients for rehabilitation at various Rehab Centers like Kripa foundation in Kohima, Bethesda Youth Welfare Center, Prodigals Home and Shalom Rehab Center in Dimapur. Now, I’m working as a counselor at Shalom Rehab Center in Dimapur.

ASHING

I’m Ashing a recovering addict.

I was born to a Christian family and was raised with all the love, care and adulation that I could possibly ask for. Having brought up in a good Christian atmosphere I have no complains about my upbringing.

I developed this dependency on drugs after the death of my father, who was shot death in cold blood. My inability to cope with this tragedy made me seek solace in drug. Which to and ignorant young mind seemed to be the best solution at hand. And thus my love affair with mind altering chemicals to ward off the pain, anger and frustration began. Gradually, drugs took complete hold of me that everything I did was just to get another shot of the choice of my chemical. Besides that I found no reason in doing anything. I was using to live and living to use for 10 long years. This obsessive habit of mine led me to do things which we humans normally abhor; nonetheless, I did it because that was the only way I thought I could survive (feed myself with more of the chemical) and in the process ended up hurting other people specially those near and dear to me.

Fortunately, God in His right time gave me the wisdom to realize and see the mess that I was in. Hence with that realization and the desire to clean up my being I was admitted to Shalom Rehabilitation Center. Here the counselors did an efficient job on me and made me what I’m today. I’ve been clean and sober for the past one and a half year and I’ve come to terms with the death or the kind of death of my father. Each day I awake I look forward to another exciting day without chemical but with God and well wishers to see me through.