Family awareness and a thorough understanding of the treatment process are essential for parents to help individuals struggling with substance dependency return to healthy lives. This guidance was shared by speakers at a family education program organized on Thursday, October 31, 2024, by the Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health Sector’s meeting room in Shyamoli, Dhaka.
Mental health practitioner and International Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP 2) Tanveer Ahmed, who specializes in treatment and recovery support, was present as a resource person. He highlighted that misconceptions about drug treatment persist across various social groups, including among parents, due to a limited understanding of substance dependency as a re-addictive brain disease. This lack of awareness can hamper effective treatment or lead to inadequate support for individuals in need.
Counsellors Fatema Tasrin Mitu and Mahmuda Alam, along with individuals in recovery and parents of clients, also attended. They underscored that substance dependency not only affects individuals but also creates significant family, social, and economic challenges. Though not physically contagious like COVID-19, tuberculosis, or chickenpox, substance dependency is ‘contagious’ in terms of its mental, social, and economic impacts.
Since 2014, the Dhaka Ahsania Mission has played a key role in promoting a substance-free society and supporting individuals on their path to recovery. The Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Shyamoli, Dhaka, has been at the forefront, offering dedicated medical services for women struggling with substance dependency.