If you want to understand what it is like to have your life ruined by alcoholism, you can talk to Hélio Queiroz. At 55, he has had enough experience to describe what it’s like. Queiroz started drinking almost 40 years ago. He lost a career and family he loved, was homeless for three years and lost a significant amount of weight. When it seemed that he would never give up alcohol, Hélio found out about Pró-Vida, a therapeutic center that is a part of ADRA, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, that helps people affected by chemical dependency. He started treatment at the unit in Cachoeira, in the interior of Bahia. "I am recovering and I am already getting to a healthy weight," said Queiroz, who said he was also happy to discover the value of spirituality in his life.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 3.3 million people die each year from alcoholism. With the current coronavirus pandemic, the problem has intensified. In Brazil, a study by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), showed that 18% of the participants reported drinking more due to Covid-19 issues. According to the researchers, the state of mind and the frequency of feelings of sadness and depression are identified in the survey as possible causes for the increase in the use of alcoholic beverages. 

In Salvador, the problem is aggravated. According to the 2019 National Health Survey released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the city of Bahia is the Brazilian capital where alcohol consumption is highest. While in Brazil alcohol consumption is 37.1% and 17% amongst men and women respectively, in Salvador it is 51% (men) and 31.8% (women).

This year, during the National Day to Combat Drugs and Alcoholism, ADRA announced that Pro-Vida has already managed to help more than 1,500 people to overcome drugs and/or alcohol dependence. They are people like Hélio Queiroz, who find a community of hope in the service of this Adventist humanitarian agency.

"This work has been done for 20 years, helping people to rebuild their lives, through multidisciplinary and humanized work", declared Leonardo Carvalho, Coordinator of Pró-Vida. He explained that the therapeutic community has a participatory approach to treat chemical dependency, through a change in lifestyle, understanding abuse as a symptom of a person's psychological and social maladjustment. Spending time in nature, social gatherings and spirituality are part of the treatment, which uses natural remedies (breathing, sunbathing, water therapy, etc.) as part of the care routine.

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site