I thought I didn't belong anywhere. That feeling made me vulnerable, which led me to addiction - I consumed alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs. I had no idea that it could ruin my life. Watching others fail, I promised myself that I wouldn't end up like that. However, I broke that promise...
Tako Nemanja (real name known to the editorial staff) begins his story about his long-standing struggle with drugs, alcoholism and gambling that nearly cost him everything - his life, family and marriage.
The "Vijesti" reporter met with Nemanja at the Public Institution for Accommodation, Rehabilitation and Resocialization of Psychoactive Substance Users (Kakaricka gora).
On the edge of town, on an isolated hill, where the last stop of the city bus on Line One is, there is a huge complex with several buildings. After the large gate opens, on the left side are a summer house and wooden houses that the clients have just built. Opposite them are a car wash, an ambulance and two buildings - pavilions for the clients.
The institution "Kakaricka gora" was founded by the Capital City Assembly in 2008. Clients have access to creative rooms, music rooms, a small cinema hall, libraries, gyms, recreational areas, carpentry workshops, gardens...
Nemanja has been staying at "Kakaricka Gora" for eight and a half months. Although, as he claims, the beginning of the treatment was extremely difficult, "he is finally on the right path to recovery."
"I'm here after 18 years of active alcohol, drug and gambling consumption. There were several unsuccessful attempts at abstinence, which I tried to solve with the help of psychotherapists outside. None of my attempts were sincere. I didn't have the desire to solve the problem until the end. I always had reservations and I was resistant to therapists, especially when they told me that I had to change my society, my behavior. The only thing I thought at the time was that I had a problem with gambling and that continued until I lost the support of my mother, brother, sister... I almost lost my marriage. At one point, my wife, children and I were separated. I had no other options. I had to seek help. I knew where I was at that moment and I had no hope for the rest of my life, other than to try to help myself honestly for the first time, and by coming here," said Nemanja.
Rules and recovery in stages
Nemanja, he tells "Vijesti", is the director of the institution. Marko Čađenović, in the final phase of rehabilitation - therapy, which is "directed towards personality reconstruction and the development of adequate behavioral patterns."
"... It includes positive changes at the level of thinking, emotional and social functioning. The first phase is a month-long adaptation period, when psycho-physical stabilization is carried out and when the client makes the final decision whether to continue treatment for a year. This is followed by the rehabilitation phase, and then the resocialization period - the last three months of the annual treatment, when the client prepares to move into the wider social community and assume obligations and responsibilities," said Čađenović.
He emphasizes that the institution "Kakaricka Gora" has a set of rules established by a special House Rules. There are also eliminatory rules that "imply that in the case of bringing in a substance, a phone or physical violence, the client loses the right to further treatment."
"The clients we work with are specific. Some of the common characteristics are social and emotional immaturity, lack of self-control and self-discipline, lack of work habits, neglect of personal hygiene, a tendency towards manipulation and conflict behavior, an occasional negative attitude towards authority that often results in arrogance and passive aggressiveness. Mood swings are also common, as are periodic psychological crises accompanied by depressive mood and/or irritability. Resistance is a common way of reacting to the internal process of change... In order for the rehabilitation and resocialization process to proceed smoothly, daily animation and motivation of clients is necessary, which requires additional effort from employees who are in direct contact with clients," said Čađenović, adding that clients are divided into groups, depending on the stage of treatment they are in.
Although the rules at the institution are rigorous, Nemanja believes that it is very necessary. He also emphasizes that "such rules suit him."
"I think the program we have here is very good. I would introduce part of this program in elementary schools. This program could also be studied by people who are not addicts. I don't know how Christopher Columbus felt when he discovered America, but I was overjoyed when I learned about honesty, openness and the willingness to progress in everything. The rules give me strength. Thanks to them, I have changed a lot of things about myself. I have regained the trust and support of my family. My children came here every weekend to visit me. It is a really great institution. The prejudices I had here before joining fell away very quickly," he said, adding that "gratitude is one of the key factors in recovery."
The hardest first month...
Čađenović reiterates repeatedly that order and discipline are key to the recovery of all clients, explaining that rules are necessary to make the recovery process more effective.
"Addiction is a chronic, progressive and complex disease. It develops over many years of consumption of various types of psychoactive substances, affects all aspects of the personality, and over time leads to deterioration in the physical, psychological, social and spiritual fields and complete moral degradation of the personality. Given that these are clients with a specific personality structure, it is of utmost importance to provide an adequate therapeutic climate for all of them," he emphasized.
During a tour of the creative workshops - a safe space where clients can discover and show their artistic side - he emphasized to the "Vijesti" team that their every day is planned and organized.
Portrait of a famous musician David Bowie, a depiction of the lake and the Ostrog Monastery, are, said Čađenović, only proof that “art was once deeply trapped in them.” That is why, according to him, it is important to have a clearly defined schedule.
"Starting with the morning meeting and division of work responsibilities (occupational therapy), through group activities (group psychotherapy), then the time allocated for meals, as well as for rest. In the afternoon, clients have the opportunity to independently fill their free time with creative and recreational activities. As for visits, the client acquires the right to visits after the adaptation period, i.e. after a month, and the right to a weekend outing after six months of staying in a public institution."
Čađenović does not hide the fact that the first month of recovery for clients is the most difficult. He emphasizes that in the treatment, group psychotherapy is “the basis of the treatment that is carried out daily.”
"Through group work, certain repressed emotional and psychological content is brought to awareness. The group usually has six to eight members. Clients join the group in the order of admission. In the event that the client is not free and open enough to share personal content in front of the group, on certain delicate topics, the professional will schedule an individual conversation. An individual conversation can be scheduled at the initiative of the client or the professional, if they assess that there is a need for it. These are all situations when the client withdraws into himself, resists, goes through a phase of mourning due to the loss of a family member, in the case of a psychological crisis, when there is a desire to discontinue treatment or for any other reason. Individual work consists of a counseling-educational and psychotherapeutic part and the conversation is professionally led, planned and structured. In addition to formal education, the professionals are additionally educated to work with clients and have undergone several years of education in various psychotherapy directions," he told "Vijesti".
Occupational therapy for better concentration
Many pieces of furniture, tables and chairs, were made by clients in the carpentry workshop. This, Čađenović points out, is an integral part of the occupational therapy that is carried out daily.
"It consists of maintaining the hygiene of the facility, or rather the rooms in which they reside. We have provided conditions for occupational therapy for clients, including working in a greenhouse, growing ornamental plants, greenery, vineyards, working in a beekeeping and carpentry workshop, and working in a car wash, while female clients are mainly engaged in hairdressing, tailoring, and cosmetics workshops."
Gardening, Čađenović claims, is very popular with clients and helps them be more productive and focused. In addition, they are tasked with taking care of poultry, as well as bees, if they so wish.
In the event that group sessions or numerous therapies, among which music therapy stands out in particular, do not help people staying at "Kakaricka Gora", clients can voluntarily discontinue treatment at the institution.
If they need help again, clients, says Čađenović, can "apply again after six months have passed since they last left treatment at a public institution."
Those who do not break the rules have the right to visits from a trusted person.
"These persons must first come for an informational interview. It is very important that the client has the will. The commission working in the institution must check the motives of our clients' calls. Trusted persons are usually parents. If they do not have them, they can be brothers, sisters, grandparents, godparents... Visits are carried out on weekends. Exceptionally, other persons may also come to visit, but only with the approval of a person trusted by the client (parent/guardian or spouse). Visits are controlled by a security person according to a defined procedure that consists of establishing the identity, as well as intercepting the persons coming to visit."
Day off with permission
According to Čađenović, a client has the right to leave the institution for a day or for the weekend, only with the approval of professionals.
"And the obligation to adhere to therapeutic recommendations. After returning from the same, the client is examined, searched and tested for the presence of psychoactive substances. In the event that the client comes under the influence of a substance, which happens less often because they are in voluntary treatment, they lose the right to further treatment," he said.
After a year of treatment at the "Kakaricka gora" facility, clients are entitled to another year of treatment outside the facility.
"... Which includes monthly testing, group psychotherapy and psychological support. This year of treatment is free. There are currently 20 of them in this (non-residential) treatment. For clients who show interest and have the potential to perform certain tasks within the framework of work-occupational activities, we try to give them the opportunity for further work under a contract of employment. Two clients who have completed two-year treatment are currently engaged, in a carpentry and music workshop. We plan to employ another client who recently completed an annual treatment, in facility maintenance work. Given that this has proven to be effective for the further recovery of clients and maintaining abstinence, we will try to maintain this type of practice in the future," said Čađenović.
He emphasizes that due to the residential part, it is necessary to provide all conditions for the undisturbed stay of clients.
"Given that clients stay in the Institution for a year, the duration of the residential part, it is necessary to provide all conditions for a smooth stay and treatment. We plan to strengthen professional capacities and hire new staff in several positions, both professionals and employees in other positions," said Čađenović.
Prejudice and denial of the problem
Nemanja told a reporter from "Vijesti" that, before arriving and starting treatment, he had prejudices about "Kakaricka Gora".
“... As well as the guys who stay here. I didn't consider myself an addict. I would often say that I didn't want to go where they were. A few days after entering here, I realized the severity of my problems. It was very quickly brought to my attention that addictive diseases are closely related to each other. Rewinding the film, I saw that I had personal examples from which I could draw lessons. Gambling, perhaps, had the greatest consequences for me, in terms of finances and interpersonal relationships in the family.”
Treatment for 11 gambling and alcohol addicts
The “Kakaricka gora” facility currently provides treatment for 47 clients.
According to Čađenović, people who have developed alcohol and gambling addictions are also seeking treatment. He said that last year, six people underwent treatment for gambling and five for alcoholism.
"Regardless of the fact that addictions differ on the external, behavioral level, on a deep unconscious level the root of the disease is the same. Clients undergoing treatment undergo the 12-Step Program, which is world-renowned and recognized and has proven to be extremely effective and useful in treating this issue," he said.
No books with addictive motifs
A small library is also available to clients. Novels by Federico Moćo, Robin Sharma, and Ron Hubbard are just some of the books they can borrow and read in a small but well-lit room on the first floor of the institution.
As Čađenović told reporters, “the institution's mini library operates on the principle of the 'Radosav Ljumović' National Library”.
"We are not banning anything, but it is very important that the books do not have addictive motives so as not to usurp the patient's recovery process."
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