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 a 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.

The following information is about “Ahalya” working under VVM De-addiction Research Centre (for men) for providing service to the clients suffering from chemical abuse :-