Mangaluru: Some Social workers and media groups have launched an online counseling platform for alcohol dependents and excessive alcohol users who were hit by the COVID Lockdown.
The 40 days of COVID lockdown have badly affected the alcohol dependents all over India with the closure of liquor shops, leading to withdrawal complications and suicides among excessive alcohol users.
Ecolink Recovery Online, a Mangalore based online therapeutic group in cooperation with Global TV and News Karnataka, has initiated a national opinion survey in this regard, which is accompanied by online counseling for alcohol dependents too.
The online opinion survey covers the general public as referral points, alcohol dependents as well as professional counselors with a 10 point questionnaire which could be filled in two minutes.
Ronnie Thomas, the coordinator of Recovery Online said these withdrawal issues were mostly felt in the first two weeks of the lockdown and now most of them are automatically detoxified and back to normal. “This is a crucial time to provide them with counseling support and otherwise almost everyone will rush to liquor shops once the lockdown is lifted”, he said.
Several Counselors and therapists have already registered to offer free counseling and guidance to alcohol dependents and excessive alcohol users and we seek media support in reaching the message to maximum needy people so that the natural sobriety achieved could be continued.
“The lockdown could be a blessing in disguise for alcohol dependents if they convert this “crises into an opportunity”, said Clara D’Cunha, one of the first Counselors signed up for free service.
To join the movement either as a social support group, Alcohol dependents, or therapists, one needs to log on to www.ecolinkrecovery.com/recovery-online and fill a small format, which is kept confidential.
