Doda and bhukki de-addiction treatment
ਡੋਡੇ ਤੇ ਭੁੱਕੀ
Doda and bhukki were treated as almost ordinary in the Malwa belt for decades. Taken openly at akharas, at weddings, and by men doing hard field work.
Also called post, phukki, or poppy husk. Aasra is a government approved de-addiction and rehabilitation centre at Korewala Road, Daroli Bhai, Moga, running since 2017. Own consultant psychiatrist, 50 beds, staff on duty at every hour. Admission can be done at any time of the day or night. Call +91 83601 40700.
Why it was never taken seriously
Poppy husk was cheap, easily available, and socially accepted in a way chitta never was. Older men in particular took it for stamina and for pain, and nobody in the village called it a nasha.
It is still an opioid. The dependence is real, the withdrawal is real, and a man who has been on doda for twenty years is physically dependent whatever anybody chooses to call it.
What changed
As supply tightened, a lot of long term doda users moved to whatever was easier to get. In many of the cases we see from Bathinda and the surrounding districts, the man started on doda years ago and is now on something far stronger.
This is one reason families are shocked. They knew about the doda and had made peace with it. They did not know about what came after.
What treatment looks like
Opioid withdrawal, managed under supervision. Body pain, cramps, sleeplessness and stomach upset are the usual pattern, and in older patients the general health needs watching at the same time.
Many doda patients are older men with other medical problems, blood pressure, diabetes, or a bad chest. Detox has to take that into account, which is another reason it should not be attempted at home.
After detox, the same four month programme. For older patients the counselling works differently, and a lot of it is about what the day will be filled with once the habit is gone.
Before you call
It helps if you know roughly how long it has been going on, how much he is taking, whether he has been admitted anywhere before, and whether there have been fits or blackouts. Bring any medicines and reports with you. None of it is essential. Ring us either way.
Nothing you tell us goes anywhere else. No name and no photograph leaves this centre without written permission from the family.
In an emergency, such as a seizure, unconsciousness, a suspected overdose or talk of suicide, go to the nearest hospital casualty or call 108 first. Ring us afterwards. See our medical disclaimer.
Where this information comes from
This page is written at the centre and checked by our consultant psychiatrist before it goes up. Where we describe how a drug behaves or how withdrawal works, we follow published guidance from bodies such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS, and the World Health Organization. You can read our editorial policy.
About Doda and post.
Is doda really a nasha?
He is sixty years old. Is admission safe at that age?
He has moved from doda to something else.
We also treat
Tell us what he is taking. We will tell you what is possible.
ਇੱਕ ਫ਼ੋਨ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।
+91 83601 40700