“12 Steps” For Drug Addict Prisoners

Little time ago, scientific conference regarding drug and alcohol addiction was held in Kutaisi detention setting # 2. The fact was extraordinary because the speakers at the conference were drug addict prisoners. They were discussing the negative influence of the dope on health; how it destroys the mentality of the abuser, etc.

“It was the merit of the Psychological Rehabilitation Center for Drug and Alcohol Addicts that similar conference took place in detention setting. The center works at the Kutaisi Detention Setting #2. When an abuser or a drug dealer admits that the drug addition is nothing more but a tragedy, it means that our work is successful. There are group and individual therapy rooms as well as church-room that help the prisoners to overwhelm their addiction,” said Manana Managadze, chairwoman of the Social Monitoring Commission at Kutaisi Detention Setting #2.

Psychological Rehabilitation Center for Drug and Alcohol Addicts is implementing the program “12 Steps”. The title of the program shows that the rehabilitation of an abuser can succeed step-by-step.

“Like hepatitis and allergy, drug addiction cannot be finally cured. We can move him/her into remission. The aim of the program is to prolong the period of non-addiction for abusers; to reduce the aggression caused by depression at the penitentiary system. Our psychologist actively works with drug addicts to persuade them that dependence on something makes them slave,” said Irakli Julakidze, director of the Rehabilitation Center who is also a member of the monitoring council of Detention Setting #2.
Young psychologist thinks that the main point in their work is to gain the trust among prisoners. In this field they have succeeded. According to present data 20 prisoners are involved in the program. Soon their number will considerably increase.

“My husband was a drug addict. Our family budget was wasted on his dopes. We were in bad situation. Finally they arrested him. It is natural that nobody could supply the prisoner with drugs at the detention setting. You can imagine the situation he got in at prison. Nowadays everything has improved. My husband is a patient for the rehabilitation center and I know that one fine day he will be released healthy from the prison,” said wife of one prisoner.

Director of the center, Irakli Julakadze, also speaks about changed life style and recovery of prisoners. He added that the mentality of their beneficiaries has already improved and today they have common sense regarding the problem. More than 100 prisoners have desire to involve the program; so it can demonstrate the efficiency of the rehabilitation center.

Various activities are planned at the Kutaisi Detention Setting #2 by the Psychological Rehabilitation Center for Drug and Alcohol Addicts. Essential charm of the activities is that main participants of the events were and will be prisoners.

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi