Cases of alcoholism tops list at exclusive de-addiction centre at Government Rajaji Hospital

MADURAI

The exclusive de-addiction centre at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai treats cases of alcoholism the most, according to doctors.

Funded by the Excise Department, the centre is a revamped project of the National Health Mission being run round-the-clock by the Department of Psychiatry at GRH.

“The centre is now equipped with two psychiatrists, two social workers and two clinical psychologists treating anywhere between 30 and 35 new in-patients a month while tending to 15 to 20 out-patients per day for the past four months,” noted D. Kirupakara Krishnan, Assistant Professor of the Department.

Patients would first undergo detoxification treatment, then diagnosed for comorbidities and are provided liaison psychiatry treatment. “Addicts usually have affected heart, brain, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidney,” said V. Geetanjali, Professor at the Department.

Common types of patients include those under intoxicated state while admitted, those suffering from withdrawal symptoms and those highly dependent on the substances, she added.

The doctors noted that addiction to the smell of volatile substances is common among schoolchildren while addiction to tobacco and alcohol is prevalent among the age groups of 20 to 30, in which alcoholics are more.

Smoking weed is most prevalent between adolescents/young teens and people of age 30, which is the third highest category of cases treated at the centre. While older age groups are addicted to over-the-counter sale of sedative drugs taken as self-medication due to age-related factors.