The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has shared the recovery case of a 29-year-old man from Akola district, Maharashtra, who overcame addiction through structured counselling and medical care. The case demonstrates how integrated rehabilitation services can help individuals rebuild their lives and repair family relationships damaged by substance dependence.
The rehabilitation journey
Dev M, from the OBC community, received support starting 5 October 2025 through an Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA) facility in Akola. His challenges before seeking help included financial strain affecting his self-employed business, persistent family conflict, emotional distress and social stigma that weakened his confidence.
The centre provided him with several forms of support free of charge:
- Medical treatment and addiction-related medicines
- Psychological therapy sessions conducted individually, in groups and with family members
- Family counselling to address relationship breakdown
- Free meals during the treatment period
- Regular follow-up services after initial treatment
As part of his recovery programme, Dev learnt practical stress-management techniques including deep-breathing exercises, maintaining a daily activity diary and regular physical exercise. Counselling sessions helped him identify what triggered his addiction and taught him to discuss problems with trusted people rather than facing difficulties alone.
What this means for you
If you or a family member struggles with addiction, this case shows that institutional support exists through rehabilitation centres that provide free medical and psychological help alongside family counselling. The structured combination of treatment, counselling and regular follow-up increases the chances of lasting recovery. Rather than facing these challenges in isolation, accessing such centres early allows individuals to understand addiction triggers, rebuild family trust and stabilise both emotional health and livelihood.