Released by Narcotics Anonymous
The problem of drug abuse began to seep into Manipur around 1978-79. During this period, the number of drug users rose exponentially. Due to lack of proper rehabilitation facilities, many families had to settle for sending them to jail after consultation with the police to make them stop using drugs. In 1987, while putting the drug usersin jail was in full swing, John Pettikkaden, the Director of St. Joseph Rehabilitation and Relief services, a rehabilitation centre based in Kolkata came to Imphal. He had said that the drug users were not able to quit and recover because addiction is an illness. He had also offered the drug users to come and visit his rehabilitation centre, St. Joseph Rehabilitation and Relief Services centre to make use of the opportunity provided in the centre for treating addiction. Consequently, some drug users went to Kolkata for treatment. The then SP of Imphal Central Jail, N Kipgen, and IG of Prisons, Thangjam Karunamaya gave their full cooperation and assistance to these drug users.
While the drug users were under treatment in Kolkata, members of Hospitals and Institution sub- committee (H&I) of the Kolkata area service committee of Narcotics Anonymous, came to give them panel presentations. After listening to the panel presentation given by H&I and attending the group meetings of Kolkata Narcotics Anonymous, they were filled with a new hope of quitting drugs and were inspired to even establish similar fellowships of Narcotics Anonymous in Manipur.
Once their treatment was completed from St.Joseph Rehabilitation and Relief services and as soon as they reached Manipur, they started working to organize Narcotics Anonymous group meetings in Manipur.
Subsequently, the first Narcotics Anonymous meeting was held at Don Bosco School, Chingmeirong on 4thAugust 1987. At that time, Father Tony of Don Bosco School gave his encouragement and full support. Later on,it was held at Nirmalabas School and Hindi Parishad respectively. These were just simple meetings; it had no proper structures that an NA meeting should have. They didn’t have any group names either.
On 1stSept, 1988, the first Narcotics Anonymous group was formed and it was called “Karuna”group. IG of Prisons Thangjam Karunamaya helped tremendously while forming this group and it remains functioning still today. Indeed he was an iconic figure for Narcotics Anonymous. The first meeting of this group was held at Dharmasala in Thangal Bazaar. The room rent was justRs. 2. Thus, after realizing that it is possible to treat drug abuse many drug users began to seek treatment. However, they faced many difficulties since Manipur had no rehabilitation centre of its own. As a result, Manipur’s first rehabilitation centre ‘New life’ was established.
A brief account of the Narcotics Anonymous Program and Narcotics Anonymous group:
Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit organization that helps those whose life has been affected by drug abuse. It was founded by a group of people in California, USA, in July 1953 to help those in need while trying to quit various kinds of addictive substances. Today, it has spread across144 countries around the globe and more than 70,000 meetings are held every week to help those who have quit and those who are trying tostay away from substance abuse.
If any drug addict decides to quit, she/he can join the group irrespective of her/his religion, community, gender, age, etc. There are no strings attached to NA. We are not affiliated with any other organizations.
We have no initiation fees or dues, no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone. We are not connected with any political, religious, or law enforcement groups, and are under no surveillance at any time. Anyone may join us regardless of age, race, sexual identity, creed, religion, or lack of religion.
This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using. Our program is a set of principles written so simply that we can follow them in our daily lives. The most important thing about them is that they work.“
We believe that if one follows the 12 step of Narcotics Anonymous comprehensively, one will be able to quit whichever substance she/he were addicted to completely and lead an improved and better life. Meetings are held every day to help them follow these steps. The nature of the meeting is such that those who have been able to quit and now lead better lives tell about their journey of improvement after attending the NA meetings to those who are in the process of quitting similar to someone telling her/his story after surviving a terrible experience.
We do not take any monetary help from any individual or organization. However, we welcome the cooperation shown to us by the government, medical teams, religious groups, voluntary organizations, private individuals, and the media. When Karuna group was formed, it is said that a few books were available on NA. However, those who were involved directly with its formation assure that these books were not guidelines.
The NA members were motivated to form a service committee after reading these books. The aim o fthe service committee was to help the drug addicts by forming NA groups in every nook and corner of Manipur to mitigate the problem of substance abuse.
What is noteworthy here is the number of the members then! It was only around 20 to 30 members. In an attempt to fulfill their promise, another group called the Good Will group was formed on the day of Diwali in 1990 after working on it tirelessly. After the formation of Good Will, on June 15 of 1991, ‘Service committee’ was formed.
Later on, it changed into Imphal Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous (IASC). The first office of this area service committee was designated at the Dharmasala in Thangal Bazaar headed by the Karuna group. Soon after the formation of the service committee, one of its members had the opportunity to go to America and learn about how the World Service was structured. It was the first step in connecting Imphal Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous with the world. After the formation of Good Will group, another group especially for women was formed. It was called the Amazing group. After this, another group was formed in Moirang which was named Hope. Amazing group and Hope had ceased to function, But Amazing Group have been revived on 31st August, 2022 and it is meeting regularly.
Today, there are 18 groups in total spread across the districts of Manipur. 47 meetings are held in a week, and on average, 7 meetings are held daily. The Narcotic Anonymous community today is a vibrant and active community in Manipur today and is carrying its messages to the addicts everyday. Every day new members join these meetings in the hope of quitting substance abuse.
Because of Narcotics Anonymous, today,many of us have quit using these substances and led a healthy life. If you want to break away from substance abuse or if you know any near and dear ones who are suffering from drug addiction, kindly consult Imphal area service committee ofNarcotics Anonymous right away.
The Groups
Karuna, Uripok,1st September,1988
Goodwill, Kongpal,18th October,1990
Wounded Healers, Chingamakha, 14th April,1992
Live and Love, Kakching,9th October,1992
Evening Star & Soul to Soul, Tera, 20th October,1993
Survivor, Moirang leirak,5th April,1994
One & Fittest, Thangmeiband ,17th March,2001
Winners, Singjamei,11th June,2002
Group of Peace, Kwakeithel, 29th October, 2001
Love and Hugs, Mayang Imphal,10th October,2015
Fagatlakliba, Khurai, 20th December, 2016
Group of True Spirit, Nambol,13th June,2018
United Souls, Thoubal, 23rd August, 2018
Wind of Change, Bishnupur, 13th May, 2022
Infinity Journey, Khundrakpam,30th May,2022
Amazing Group, Sagolband, 31st July, 2022 [*Women Only]
Punna Hingminaba, Bamon Leikai, 26th December, 2023
Anouba Lambi, AwangKhunou,11th November, 2022
Each Group has but one Primary Purpose To Carry The Message
To The Addict who still Suffers
Imphal Area Service Committee (IASC) of Narcotics Anonymous,
P.O.Box 64
Sagolband Ingudam Leirak, Imphal West 795001, Manipur
Helpline number:+919366120877
Email: [email protected]
