S. P., Kolkata
"Hope Trust is in the business of saving lives - by changing the way we live. Coming into this facility after 3 prior treatments in USA, I had no idea of what I really am - until I saw it face-to-face here. I know HT does not guarantee recovery - but had I not been through here, my early death was a guarantee.

Today I leave with lot of hope and humility in my heart - and a prayer on my lips - for a renewed chance at life. I shall remain ever grateful to my counselors".

Dr. Masood, USA
"Hope Trust is the place where I got back my lost values and my family, which I lost due to my addiction. I also gained tremendous awareness about myself.

The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful".

Kazi, Sikkim
"It’s a great place if a person really wants recovery and life. Counseling is intense, excellent in a friendly environment. Staff are supportive and understanding. Thank you very much. Keep going!"

V. Singh, New Delhi
"Well, Hope Trust has been a rich experience. When I came to this temple I was a parody of shame and unmanageability. My thinking was infected and behavior highly objectionable. I had tried various methodologies to stop but failed miserably".

This place however changed my life. The truly commendable therapy adopted here is very effective on people from all walks of life, whatever their cultural backgrounds. The exercises here are designed to make the client look at themselves from a different perspective and truly...it works! I'm eternally grateful to Hope Trust for lifting me out of the pockets of wasteful life I was stuck in. G.O.D is here!"

Anil, Sohna, India
"When I came here I was initially feeling trapped and was totally close-minded and angry with everyone, especially family. Then I realized I have a problem with alcohol and drugs: this place made me understand this and it was the first step. Slowly, I began to like the program. I started having good sleep without drugs and got my appetite back.

I got open-minded and this place gave birth to a new me. I am very grateful for the direction, understanding, joy and hope I have now got. In the book of my life, Hope Trust will have the biggest chapter!"

Sandeep, UK
I used to live in constant fear and have huge resentments against everyone. I tried covering up my shame and guilt with arrogance. I was suffering from low self-worth which I compensated with grandiosity. My relationships with my wife, son and parents were totally broken. I was constantly changing jobs. I lost touch with my values and God.

Thanks to Hope Trust, I have come to terms with myself. I now know the tools to stay sober and my relationships shall hopefully improve. Finally, there is hope. I now go to bed without guilt or shame and wake up without a hangover. I look forward to the joys of a new day everyday.

All this was possible only because of the 'tough love' I got at Hope Trust. I shall always be grateful and will come back each year to express my gratitude.

Rakesh Agarwal, Darjeeling
Dear Rajeshwari Mam, Rahul and Dr. Prasad,
Firstly, I thank each one of you for all the support rendered to me to enable me to come into sobriety once again and due to which I can proudly say that today is my 1st sober B'day.

After my relapse, I had almost given up and thought that “I'm the unfortunate one who is naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty". I wasn't able to adjust in any treatment centre and was very prone to running away or compulsively exit. But Hope Trust was a place where I opted to stay for 15 days more. Recovery is not a bed of roses and I'm sure you will remember the amount of pain I went through during my detox. All apart one thing is for sure that miracles happen in recovery.

Today I'm well settled. Apart from all the monetary gains now I'm associated with a rehabilitation centre here in Siliguri near Darjeeling since last seven months. Here, as I'm a key person, I'm trying to implement many things I've learnt from Hope Trust. However, hows everything there. Hows Rohan, I miss him. Hows Sekhar. I really remember Shafi a lot. He was of great help during my early days. I hope he’s doing well now. If he’s in touch with you please can you ask him to write to me?

Every time I remember you all I thank my Higher Power, I came across such wonderful people. I miss Hope Trust and just wish I could come and stay there for a few days (Of course not as a client).

Once again Thanks for everything.

Lots and Lots of luv n regards,

Harjinder Singh, Chandigarh, India
Thank you Hope Trust for all you did for me. By the grace of Higher Power & your good support I'm clean till now.

I'm leading a quality life now and enjoying every bit of it. Once again thanks Dr. Prasad my counselor, Mr. Gideon & Mr. Rahul.

Piyush
I had been drinking from the past 13 years, but it got to be a daily routine since the last 4 years. Initially it used to be a couple of pegs a day, and then gradually increased to more than a bottle a day. I could not start my day without a drink and used to have my first drink early in the morning, when any sane and normal person would be having his morning cup of tea.

Drinks started taking over my life not just physically but mentally too. My life was revolving around my drinking because of which I started loosing friends, family and my business. I had reached such a stage where I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. The first few days in the rehab was pure misery for me. I used to feel trapped and betrayed by my family. After a couple of days I started realizing in the therapy sessions that I was not alone as I used to think in my problem, and could identify with other alcoholics and addicts. I started to enjoy my stay there because I was learning more about my problem and was living among people with a similar problem.

Thecounselors over there were very humane and compassionate people who where willing to help in any way possible. Looking back I realize that my stay over there was theturning point in my life towards the positive, my attitude towards life underwent a dramatic change. The rehab taught me to face life on life's terms and emerge a winner. After coming out I realized that there was no shame in admitting that I am an alcoholic. I realized that on the road to recovery and maintaining my sobriety people started respecting me more and were more open with me than before.

My family is more relaxed around me and my friends whom I had lost started coming back into my life. I also made many new friends in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, who had gonethrough similar experiences. The stay in the rehab was the best thing to have happened to me! Not only did it give me an insight into this extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal disease, but also taught me, and armed me with tools to deal with it on a daily basis.

Rajesh
At the age of 16, like any other boy of my age, I had my shares of fun with friends and one such form became consuming beer. The thing that started as fun went on to become a habit, which increased day after day. I never realized till the evils took over all of my mind. I was gradually becoming an alcoholic.

At the age of 20, I found that there is more fun in hard liquor and became a hardcore alcoholic. Life in the world kept moving and so was my life but hardly I realized that I was getting away with the real happiness of life in the real meaning of life.

During one of my high toxic stage, I met with a major accident, which ever can be said "close to death". But the prayers of my family & well wishers made me come out of it. But could not stop me being an alcoholic.

After the sad demise of my father, I became the eldest one of the family and this situation & ego became a bigger boost. Now I have no one to question me. I was superior to any one in my family.

The tears in my family increased. I could not give my family support and happiness; all I gave them was sad days in tears.

I could not understand the value of tears and those were the black stages of my life.

I tried to come out of it but could not, tried hard but didn't succeed. My addiction to alcohol was at its peak. My mother and my family used to be very sad and worried seeing my condition, but could not see theirs.

It was at this point of time I was admitted to Hope Trustand was introduced to the 12 steps program and it was here I realized all my problem and wrong doings. I started recovering out of my addiction and one fine day came out, bringing smiles to my mother and my family.

I started attending AA meetings regularly and today I am dedicated to my business and family.

Even though, some times I am unable to attend the meetings, I kept in touch with my senior AA members on phones. When ever possible I also interact with recovering alcoholics thereby sharing my feeling with them.

I still follow the tools of the 12 steps program in my day to day life and pray to my higher power and try to be sober in the coming 24 hours.

Today I am happy that I have a happy life, happy family and a happy business community. I share my happiness with them and pray to be same for the rest of my life, one day at a time.

Armaan
I am a recovering drug addict. I started drinking heavily and abusing drugs when I was 16. I didn't realize what was happening to me and soon I was in the grip of addiction. I couldn't stop using drugs and everyday would find a reason to get high. Slowly, I was so addicted to it that I had to use every day to survive. But I couldn't do anything when I was using, my brain was so clouded that I didn't realize that I was making a mistake and most importantly I didn't know that there was way to stop.

I hit rock bottom when I lost 3-4 yrs of my educational career, lost the trust and faith of my family and most importantly lost faith in god. Every night there was violence at home. I was admitted to Hope Trust on March 19th 2003. I was tricked into coming there otherwise I would have never gone. Once there the company of other recovering addicts and alcoholics (like me) made me relax. I felt that there are other people like me when I met them and shared our experiences. I was really down and I was very guilty about the whole thing as my mind started to clear up in the 4-5 days of de-toxification. When I spoke to my councilor I realized that there are people who care for me and would like to see me live happily, I was really motivated to quit drugs.

As the weeks passed and as I attended the sessions and followed the daily routine, I began to understand the ill effects of drugs on my body, mind and soul and also on the people around me. I realized that I cannot drink or use drugs "socially". I was taught how to keep away from drugs and alcohol and most importantly how to say NO. I was taught anger management and learnt humility. Today I am trying to complete my graduation. I celebrated my 1 yr clean time in the rehab. By using the same program I have quit smoking and am able to get a broader and clearer perspective to life.