Centre for Addiction Medicine Complex has been inaugurated at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore.
The centre was opened by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan.
After inaugurating the centre, the minister said alcoholism and consumption of tobacco are major contributors to ill-health in India.
“They contribute to more than 60 per cent of non-communicable diseases in the present day youth. In addition, synergy between the two, complicate the outcome of some of the major communicable infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV alerting the immune status of the individual,” the minister said.
“Every person in India should be given 50 medicines free, which can cure 90 major diseases. This will help make our country disease-free and it is a step towards reaching preventive and positive healthcare,” he further added.
Recent epidemiological studies from India have estimated the prevalence of alcohol dependence at about 5 per cent in adult population, whereas hazardous and harmful use is noted in about 50 per cent alcohol users, approximately corresponding to 15 per cent of all adult males and 2.5 per cent of all adult females in the country.
NIMHANS achievements
Highlighting the achievements of NIMHANS, the minister said that NIMHANS has been the pioneer and leader in the discipline of mental health and neurosciences in India.
The status of institute of national importance is a tribute to various patient care activities, innovations in the use of technology, path-breaking research in basic, applied and clinical sciences and translating this research into action, he added.
In the present social system as practiced by NIMHANS, it is essential to extend the psychological rehabilitative to the spouses and children of alcoholics.
Similarly, liaison with industrial and labour organisations is essential to identify the vulnerable group and rehabilitate them, thus help the family and the society.
In addiction to alcohol and drugs, behavioural traits of gambling and dependence on Internet will have a telling effect to work efficiency and the work ethics of the organisation.
Recently yoga and meditation are realised to be cost-effective yet efficacy treatment strategies. The Government is also trying to follow these methods in addition to conventional allopathic medication.