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Acupuncture to help Sabarmati jail inmates fight addictions






Acupuncture to help Sabarmati jail inmates fight addictions

Training workshop on use of ear acupuncture as per NADA Protocol for addiction treatment and general well being was organized by Nada India ,Prison Department Gujarat & Nada Gujarat Chapter for Jail officials ,physicians ,nursing staff & NGOs held at Central Jail, Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 27th &28th Jan 2011 . The workshop was conducted by Dr. Michael O. Smith, Psychiatrist & Acupuncturist from Lincoln Hospital New York and facilitated by Suneel Vatsyayan ,Nada India.

In an effort to ensure that prisoners stay sober after they are released from jail, a two-day workshop on de-addiction through acupuncture is being held at Sabarmati Prison from Thursday onwards.

The workshop will be held for 25 prisoners who will in turn conduct a similar workshop for other prisoners to help them stay away from liquor and drugs when they are released from prison.

The acupuncture detoxification workshop jointly held by the state prisons department and the Nada India Foundation aims to ensure de-addiction of prisoners lodged in the Sabarmati Jail through acupuncture techniques.

Talking to DNA, Dr Manjula Patel, a trainer from Nada India, said that the training will help them stay away from addictions and will also help them become a good citizen when they leave prison.

She said that most of the prisoners lodged in the jail were found to be depressed or extremely short-tempered.

"We are also trying to use acupuncture techniques to help reduce stress levels among prisoners," Patel said.

She said that 25 prisoners will be trained in the technique who will eventually conduct similar therapies for other prisoners."To actually see the results of the therapy one needs to complete three weeks training of at least 35 minutes per day," Patel said.

The workshop will come to an end on Friday.

Superintendent of police, Sabarmati Jail, RJ Parghi said that the department wants prisoners, who eventually leave jail, to live a life of dignity and such training will help them stay from liquor, drug and gutkha addictions.

The workshop was held on Thursday evening and may soon be extended to other prisons of the state like Rajkot, Dhandhuka, Vadodara and Bhavnagar.


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