Crac Anti-Drug Group
In Rodrigues, which has a unique culture of drug abuse (mainly alcohol), Crac Anti-Drug Group has established five critical stages of intervention for managing drug abusers. These stages, identified in collaboration with other NGOs in Rodrigues in 1993, include:
- Proper and prompt intervention at the emergency stage
- Effective and safe detoxification methods
- Specialised in-patient care with the participation of a network of professionals
- Prompt admission and follow-up in halfway homes
- Continuous home-level follow-up after discharge from the hospital.
Our vision is “A Drug-Free Rodrigues,” and our mission is to mobilise and consolidate all resources—financial, infrastructural, technical, and more—to realise this vision.
Our organisation is managed by a committee of 13 members who hold office for a two-year term. We focus on four major axes of intervention:
- Information
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Rehabilitation and Reinsertion
We also have a team providing ambulatory services for home-level follow-up of patients.
Activities Carried Out
Prevention
In the field of prevention, we conduct extensive sensitization campaigns in villages, clubs, workplaces, health centres, and dispensaries. Additionally, we broadcast a fortnightly radio programme aimed at the general population. Our team systematically implements anti-drug activities in primary and secondary schools and among trainees of Basic Education for Adolescents. These activities are organized by a dedicated programme officer and executed by our social workers.
Treatment
Treatment is our second key area of intervention. Our workforce consists of 30 members, including eight qualified nursing officers, five of whom have received advanced training in substance abuse management in France, Belgium, and Reunion Island. For patients requiring ongoing special care, such as those experiencing hallucinations or critical illnesses, we refer them to general hospitals and conduct daily visits. Our ambulatory service, managed by social workers, provides treatment and rehabilitation in patients' homes.
Rehabilitation
We organise various therapeutic activities for treated patients, including education on drug abuse, group therapy, indoor games, film discussions, group relaxation, video sessions, cooking, gardening, light physical exercise, and animal rearing.
Reinsertion
We recognise the need for a seamless transition between rehabilitation and reinsertion. As such, we collaborate with firms, Caritas, and other institutions to assist our patients in improving their living conditions through decent accommodation, employment opportunities, and support for productive activities. A comprehensive rehabilitation programme facilitates easier reinsertion into society. We have several projects aimed at helping treated patients reintegrate. Additionally, patients are encouraged to join the Association des Anciens Buveurs to strengthen their abstinence. We also offer treated patients the opportunity to engage in mixed farming activities on land provided by the NGO at Vars Brule and Mte Goyaves.
Founded in 1987 by a group of college students from Rodrigues, CRAC Anti-Drug Group initially aimed to inform the population about the consequences of drug abuse. They began with preventive activities throughout Rodrigues under the name ‘Club Anti Alcool de Rodrigues.’ Over time, the group expanded, welcoming new members and broadening its scope.
In January 1995, the organisation was officially registered with the Registrar of Association. Today, CRAC Anti-Drug Group stands as the sole NGO in Rodrigues actively combating drug abuse, continuing its mission to educate, prevent, treat, and rehabilitate individuals affected by substance abuse.
- To take over and continue the treatment already started at the hospital, especially behavioural therapies such as group therapy, ‘Renarcissisation,’ individual psychotherapy, and occupational therapy.
- To bridge the gap between hospital treatment and home-level follow-up.
- To strengthen the conviction of the ‘treated’ patient in their abstinence, thereby reducing the relapse rate.
- To actively participate in the fight against drug abuse across Rodrigues.
Strategic Goal
“Within any sufferer there is a part of ourselves; thus, giving a helping hand to him/her is helping ourselves.”
In January 2001, the European Union approved and financed the construction of the Centre Alcoologie Paille en Queue to provide complementary treatment for patients suffering from alcohol and drug abuse.
Aims and Objectives:
- To provide humane and comprehensive treatment for patients suffering from alcoholism and other drug addictions in Rodrigues.
- To alleviate overcrowding in the general ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and ensure that alcoholics and drug addicts receive holistic treatment in an environment free from public harassment and the pressures of a general ward.
- To actively reduce the number of drug addicts, particularly alcoholics, in Rodrigues society by offering:
- Appropriate facilities for proper admission and detoxification.
- Specialised inpatient care and rehabilitation.
- To contribute to the welfare of families directly and indirectly affected by alcohol abuse, a significant source of many social issues in Rodrigues.
- To centralise care for alcoholics and drug addicts, discouraging incomplete treatments and aiming to eventually establish several drug reduction units throughout Rodrigues. The Centre Alcoologie serves as a referral centre for addicts, with the court of justice often sending individuals there for treatment programmes instead of prison sentences.
Duration of Stay:
The standard duration of stay at the centre is four weeks. Patients should undergo several sessions of pre-motivation and motivation before admission to prevent relapse. However, the centre is equipped to accept any patient in case of emergency, especially those in acute psychiatric phases, thanks to its proximity to Mont Lubin Hospital and the availability of professionals within the NGO.