Addiction is a long-term condition, not merely a personal shortcoming, emphasized Reverend Hemraj Mangal, the executive director of Adult Teen Challenge Fiji, during a speech at the Vodafone Coral Coast Carnival in Sigatoka on Thursday.
He highlighted the pervasive nature of addiction, which affects countless individuals, including men, women, and children, stripping away their innocence. “Families are torn apart. Lives are taken. Prisons are overcrowded,” he pointed out. Reverend Mangal also noted that addiction often leads people to make unfavorable decisions and damages their relationships.
In his address, he identified several common forms of addiction faced by many, including reliance on mobile phones, social media, electronic devices, gambling, alcohol, kava, and drug abuse. He expressed concern over the modern habit he observed in restaurants, where families, while dining together, are often engrossed in their smartphones instead of connecting with one another.
Mr. Mangal affirmed that many addictions are treatable and that the initial step towards recovery is acknowledging the problem and seeking assistance. “No one can help unless the addict has a strong desire to change,” he stated.
This perspective sheds light on the importance of understanding addiction as a complex issue rather than a personal failure. By encouraging open discussions and support for those struggling, there is hope for recovery and rebuilding of relationships within families and communities.
In summary, Reverend Mangal’s insights reveal that addressing addiction requires compassion, awareness, and a collective effort to foster change and promote healing.
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