By Jane Best | Project leader
50 – 60% of DARE clients continue to be clean and sober after two years. This is an amazing statistic, especially considering the challenges that people from Myanmar face living in limbo on the border with Thailand.
While staff at DARE are able to treat some clients inside Karen state – hoping for the day that refugees can return – their work on the border is as essential as ever. Despite reports that refugees are returning to Myanmar from Thailand, the reality is that it continues to be unsafe due to insurgent activity and forced recruitment. In addition, the drug trade is as prolific as ever. A recent article highlighted the death threats sent to vigilantes trying to prevent the spread of addiction.
More and more people in this programme are trained every year to work in the community, many using their experience as recovering addicts to address abuse in families and the community. Adolescents work with their peers organising sports and music events to spread the message regarding the dangers of addiction. On our visits to the the project we are always impressed at how proud the youth are – they have an important role in the community and feel they are making a difference.
One client said, “the programme’s activities benefit everyone, not only those addicted.”
They are keep hope while waiting to find a way out of the 'hard place'.
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