Real Stories, Real Healing

The counselor from A Friend in Need NGO met a 30-year-old man currently receiving treatment inside jail. His substance use began after getting involved with the wrong peer group, which introduced him to pregabalin and heroin. What started as occasional use to fit in soon became a daily habit, leading to dependence and emotional instability. He was eventually arrested during a police raid and referred for counseling. Through CBT, Motivational Interviewing, OOAT, and mindfulness, he has developed healthier coping skills and is now committed to living a stable, drug-free life after release.

A 30-year-old man, currently under treatment in jail, began using drugs after getting involved in peddling for easy money and social influence. What started as occasional use soon became daily opioid consumption to “feel energetic and confident.”

After his arrest in a narcotics raid, he was referred for counseling. Through CBT and Motivational Interviewing by A Friend in Need NGO, he learned to challenge his beliefs and develop healthier coping skills. With OOAT treatment, mindfulness, and routine-building, he gained emotional clarity and committed to leaving substance use and illegal trade behind to rebuild a stable, drug-free life.

A 32-year-old man was referred from the jail hospital after being arrested for possessing unauthorized pain medicines. His addiction began following a road accident that left him with chronic back pain. Over time, he developed tolerance and started misusing prescribed medication.

Through counseling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) by A Friend in Need Counselor, he learned to manage pain and emotions in healthy ways. He was also placed on OOAT treatment and taught mindfulness, breathing, and relaxation techniques.

With continued therapy and group support, he gained emotional control, improved pain tolerance, and confidence to live a stable, drug-free life after release.

I graduated from seeing lives broken by addiction to witnessing stories of hope and recovery.
A Friend in Need NGO gave me the opportunity to work with them as a counselor at the OOAT Centre, and it has been a life-changing experience for me.

One case I will always remember is of a 28-year-old unmarried man who had been injecting heroin every day for almost 4 years. His elder brother brought him to our centre, very worried and hoping for help.

The patient was in poor health and tested positive for Hepatitis C, which increased his anxiety and made him feel hopeless. He had tried to quit drugs many times before but couldn’t stay drug-free.

At the OOAT Centre, we started his treatment with Buprenorphine-Naloxone under medical supervision. We also began regular counseling sessions to help him understand the reasons behind his addiction.

Through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), he started identifying the emotional and social triggers that pushed him toward drug use. He shared how loneliness, peer pressure, and family issues affected him deeply. We worked on building healthy coping skills, improving his self-esteem, and setting short recovery goals.

As his health and mindset improved, he started joining group sessions and showed a real interest in recovery. After 6 months of consistent treatment, we started reducing his medication slowly with the doctor’s advice.

By the 8th month, his dose had come down a lot, and we referred him for Hepatitis C treatment. His progress was possible because of his strong will, his family’s support, and his regular follow-ups.

Today, he remains drug-free, visits the OOAT Centre regularly, works part-time, and even volunteers to motivate and support new patients.

His journey proves that with the right support, recovery is always possible

I have been working as a mental health counsellor with A Friend in Need NGO for the last two years.I got the chance to work in this NGO.

Working here has changed my life. I have learned a lot and have been able to guide many people towards a new life free from drugs.

One case I remember is of a 35-year-old truck driver. He started using drugs at the age of 20. His addiction made him sell all his household items, fight with his parents, and after marriage, he even beat his wife and threw her out.

When he came to our clinic, we gave him regular counselling sessions. Slowly, he controlled himself and left the habit of drugs. We also talked to his family twice a week. With everyone’s support, he is now free from addiction and living happily with his family.

I wish to continue helping more people in the future and make dream of a drug-free Punjab come true.

A 27-year-old married man was referred from jail to A Friend in Need counselor. He had started using drugs due to peer pressure and later became dependent on IV heroin, which had even damaged his veins. While traveling with a friend, he was caught by police and sent to jail, even though he did not know his friend was carrying drugs.

During counseling, the A Friend in Need counselor slowly built rapport with him and referred him to a doctor for treatment. Along with medication, regular counseling and therapy sessions were started. Within a week, he began to feel better. A family meeting was also arranged, which gave him strength and motivation.

Knowing that he had a 5-year-old daughter, the counselor advised him to keep a photo of his family in his pocket and look at it whenever he felt the urge to use drugs. This advice helped him stay strong in recovery.

After just a few sessions, he expressed gratitude, saying he feels happy and hopeful again. He is now determined to live a drug-free life and begin a new chapter with his family.

The patient is a 25-year-old hairdresser who started using opium just for fun, but soon his addiction grew stronger, and he began injecting drugs daily. One day, during a government campaign, police raided his shop, found drugs, and arrested him under the NDPS Act. His first days in jail were very tough as he battled severe cravings.

The jail authorities immediately sent him to a doctor, who referred him to a counselor from A Friend in Need NGO. With proper medication and continuous counseling, he learned how to fight his addiction and care for his mental health. Within two weeks, his health began improving.

Today, he uses his hairdressing skills in jail to train other inmates. In his last follow-up, he confidently promised to never return to drugs and to live a healthy, productive life.

I have been working as a mental health counsellor with A Friend in Need NGO for the last two years.

Working here has changed my life. I have learned a lot and have been able to guide many people towards a new life free from drugs.

One case I remember is of a 35-year-old truck driver. He started using drugs at the age of 20. His addiction made him sell all his household items, fight with his parents, and after marriage, he even beat his wife and threw her out.

When he came to our clinic, we gave him regular counselling sessions. Slowly, he controlled himself and left the habit of drugs. We also talked to his family twice a week. With everyone’s support, he is now free from addiction and living happily with his family.

I wish to continue helping more people in the future and make dream of a drug-free Punjab come true.