Ahalya, the VVM De-Addiction Research Centre for Women, is opened on 24th of August, 2008, at Howrah near Kolkata, under the aegis of the Art of Living foundation, where care and quality treatment is the prime factor for rendering services.

Why we want to start aA De-Addiction Centre for ladies?

• Many queries were received enquiring about treatment for ladies.
• Young girls using substances are vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies, prostitution and sexual abuse. This reality often leads to unwanted and high risk pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
• A joint survey under the UN programme and the ministry found that most of the women in urban area were using heroin or “brown sugar” - an impure form of heroin. ALCOHOL is more commonly used in Rural India. Other common misused substances in urban areas were “propoxyphene”, alcohol, minor tranquillizers, cough syrups and cannabis.
• Women who misuse drugs commonly reports: respiratory, gastro-intestinal, liver problems and sexually transmitted infections. Their psychological problems include insomnia, depression and anxiety about their current & future lives.
• Study towards end of 20th century showed in Mumbai alcoholism in women is around 67% , where as in Kolkata it is almost 50% alcoholism and 50% BS ( mostly) amongst women.

“More and more WOMEN are smoking hashish or getting hooked to even more dangerous drugs – all for a few hours of thrill.” - Reena Martins reports from “The Telegraph”

Traditional use of various kinds of drugs by women is not unknown in many parts of India. A study towards the end of 21st Century by Narcotics Board and the Ministry of Welfare, Government of India, shows that women were dependent on Alcohol, prescription pills, heroin and cannabis, etc. These women under study were mostly from middle and upper class. Several health problems, financial hardships, occupational and psychological problems were seen.

Common problems faced by women drug users

• Health problems – body aches, giddiness, asthma.
• Financial hardships.
• Job related difficulties – due to poor educational qualifications and inadequate professional skills.
• Parenting difficulties – separation from children, relationship difficulties with children.
• Family problems – broken families, family conflicts, tension, violence, communication difficulties.
• Emotional problems – depression ,worry, loss of memory, etc.

Study on Substance Abuse among Women

Study on substance Abuse among Women in Mumbai, Delhi and Aizawl reveals that:

• Friends had introduced drugs initially to 48% of the respondents.
• Introduction to drug use by addicted husband or partner is about 16%.
• Thirteen percent of women from Mumbai reported initiation of drug use on account of humiliation, shame, anger and powerlessness as a response to their situation.
• In over twenty percent married women, marital conflict and abuse of prescription drugs was common initiating factors of drug abuse.
• To address this social problem and to help the women drug abusers, a new Centre for the women is opened.