Using compassion, yoga, and service, a retired colonel cures thousands of addicts.

Photo Credit ( freepik )

An inspirational tale of a former army colonel using positive reinforcement to help his fellow citizens overcome addiction comes from the heartland of Sikhism.

The Akal Drug De-Addiction Centre in Punjab was founded and is run by Colonel Dr. Rajinder Singh. Over 10,000 patients have been able to overcome addictions resulting from a range of underlying causes thanks to his techniques.

Colonel Dr. Rajinder Singh provided the image of Dr. Rajinder Singh in the 1980s (left).
You wouldn’t believe that Dr. Singh is ninety-one because he is constantly working to make the centre better and preparations to open a third facility are proceeding smoothly.

His approach relies on change brought about by empathy and consistent reinforcement.

Dr. Singh was one of the first psychiatrists to receive a doctorate in independent India, according to The Better India, but his experience in the army during the 1962 Indo-China War gave him a deeper understanding of the psychology of addiction.

“Service members are subjected to extremely stressful circumstances. Their mental health may be impacted by extended absences from home. Following battle and war, some people even get post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to Singh.

Singh has witnessed several forms of addiction at the Akpal Centre in the Sangrur district of Punjab, including addiction to whitener fumes and intravenous drug use. He even took in a man who was addicted to the rush of adrenaline that snake bites provide.

His approach is always the same: yoga, organised sports, physical activity, medical care when necessary, and teaching the idea of service that is central to his Sikh faith and does not allow for “haranguing or preachiness.”

According to Dr. Singh, a person’s struggles with particular events are the underlying reason of their addictions, and the ultimate goal of therapy is for them to have a moral conversation with themselves or with those who have wronged them.