Alcoholism is a disease that needs to be treated

Bhanu Suresh Babu, the founder of Concern, a Chennai based rehabilitation centre for alcohol and drug addicts received The Weekend Leader – VIT Unsung Hero of Tamil Nadu Award at a function held at VIT University, Vellore, on Wednesday.

Addressing the MBA students after receiving the award from Dr D Ashok, Dean, VIT Business School, Bhanu thanked The Weekend Leader and VIT for recognizing her services and later enlightened the students on the perils of alcoholism.

Dr D Ashok, Dean, VIT Business School, (left) presents the The Weekend Leader - VIT Unsung Hero of Tamil Nadu Award to Bhanu Suresh Babu. Also seen is P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor, The Weekend Leader (Photos: H K Rajashekar)

Alcoholism is a disease that needs to be treated as any other illness, Bhanu argued, and noted that it was most rampant in society. She said studies have revealed that two out of 10 people who consume alcohol can become addicted to it and the victims could be from any strata of society.

Bhanu said many of those who have undergone treatment at her centre remain in touch with her and wish her on Mother’s Day. “It gives me the greatest satisfaction,” she said.

Bhanu’s husband Suresh Babu was an alcoholic, who has stayed sober for more than 20 years following multiple stints at de-addiction centres.

Bhanu Suresh and her husband Suresh Babu, a recovered alcoholic, interacted with the students

Suresh Babu, a senior officer in a public sector bank, shared his story of how he became an alcoholic and said, “I was under the impression only the poor or the uneducated can become addicted to alcohol, but I was wrong.”  

Later, the students interacted with the speakers and sought their views on a variety of subjects.

Commenting on ‘peer pressure’ in social get-togethers to consume alcohol and the view that those who did not take liquor in parties were not considered ‘cool’, Suresh Babu said that from his experience he found that non-alcoholics had higher respect in society.  

Bhanu Suresh Babu with the students and faculty members of VIT Business School

P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor, The Weekend Leader, who moderated the interactive session, said that he found it cool to be the only person in a party not drinking.

“You need to have the self-confidence (to say no to liquor),” he said, and revealed that he had turned down a suggestion to carry the success story of a liquor baron in The Weekend Leader, as the magazine did not want to promote alcohol in any manner. – TWL Bureau