Today we’ll have an intimate talk with Mr. Hasan Taheri, one of the revived addicts in Congress 60 and the current member of executive committee of Shadabad branch.
Mr. Taheri! Would you please introduce yourself?
With greetings to you and readers, I am Hasan Taheri; born in 1971 and I have two children.
What was your drug of choice?
I was an opium consumer.
Let us know how you got into drugs?
In 1989, I was in military service and there, I smoked hashish for the first time. I used to smoke hashish for two years and after finishing the military service I started drinking alcohol. Then in 1996, I started smoking opium and opium became my drug of choice. I used to use opium for ten years.
Did your family know about your addiction?
My parents were not much involved with my addiction because I got married when I was 21. Before marriage, I used to use drug for fun however, after marriage I became severely addicted and my wife noticed it. In fact, my addiction had major impacts on my wife and family.
Tell us about the negative effects of addiction on your life.
Majorly, there were financial problems, such as unemployment and being penniless; and behavioral issues such as being aggressive most of the time.
How the intention of treatment was kindled in you?
After many years of addiction, I had become someone else, lost in the darks and obsessed by drugs. The more I tried to break free, the less I succeeded and in fact, the more I drowned. I have a friend, Mr. Reza Karimi. We were neighbors and he was addicted to heroin injection for many years. However, you could tell that he is getting better then. In fact, positive changed were obvious in his appearance and behavior. I asked him about the reason and he told me that he got his addiction treated in a NGO called Congress 60.
How much has passed from your treatment completion and how do you feel now?
Currently, I have been treated for about two years. I had a wonderful journey (treatment program) under my guide’s supervision, Mr. Masoud Heidari who helped me a lot during the treatment.
Currently, you are a member of executive committee (Marzbanan) at Congress 60. Let us know about this experience.
After being under treatment at Congress 60 for a few months, my perspective on life changed. All my senses became stronger, I could see the world around me much brighter than before, I could hear the right words, I could feel the true love and affection flowing throughout Congress 60. I was able to see that the best way to worship God and appreciate life in nothing but serving other people. Therefore, I decided to be a part of this system and serve and help other people anyhow and wherever possible.
Being in executive committee is a critical responsibility and it’s like walking on a narrow edge. Is it possible to please everyone?
Guys in Congress 60 are full of love and passion and interacting with them is not a problem. I have learned here that I should walk towards expanding my thoughts and capacity in order to be able to tolerate different problems. In fact this a difficult task to accomplish. However, serving others as a member of executive committee always involves learning new things. On the other hand, all people in Congress 60 are like my brothers and I try my best to love and help them all.
Please answer these questions briefly.
· What is addiction?
· Full of darkness and guilt
· Addiction treatment?
· The first step towards salvation from all vices
· Opium?
· The gate towards lights at Congress 60
· Congress 60?
· Humanizing workshop
· A wish:
· I wish to have the opportunity to talk with Mr. Dezhakam intimately one day.
Interview by: Farshid Sedaghati
Source: shadbad.blogfa.com