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YLF Public Service: Working with Recovering Drug and Alcohol Addicts in Kazan

June 2002
By Heather Hawkins, YLF Fellow 2001-2002

Roza Vetrov is a 12-step center that opened in Kazan in March to help young recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. I have been doing the bulk of my volunteer work at a sister center called Vybor. Both are affiliated with The Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Tatarstan, and both have very similar goals. Through my connections at Vybor, I was able to meet Roza Vetrov's founder, Tatiana Griorgevna, a woman who decided to dedicate her life to helping addicted youth after she found out that her two sons were drug addicts. I've been able to spend a lot of time at this center, observing how they work and what they do. It's been a great opportunity for me to spend time with these people and get to know them.

One of the program's participants, Ildar, invited me to go with him to a two-room house outside of the city, where recovering addicts gather to learn about their Islamic faith and to draw support from religion. Two men run seminar-type lessons every Sunday, Brother Adel, a thirty-something former addict and Ali, a Chechen refugee and expert on Muslim teachings.

Ildar and two of his friends picked me up in a car one Sunday morning and we drove to the house where Brother Adel and Ali hold their lessons. I was afraid that the other participants would be wary of having a stranger present during their discussions, but they were all extremely receptive and excited that I had come. Brother Adel gave me a scarf for my head and explained how to put it on so that it covered all of my hair, plus forehead and ears. He explained that without this, I shouldn't go into the room where they prayed because feminine beauty is distracting to the angels that are in there. Out of respect for the angels, I tried to rub off my eyeliner when nobody was looking, just in case. Then, I went into the second room and sat on a mat on the floor while all of the men faced Mecca and prayed.

The ultimate purpose of these meetings is to bring addicts from Islamic families back to their faith in order to help them better cope with their addictions and to feel less isolated. About 20 young men were there, and one other girl besides me. All are trying to reconnect to their roots and to find deeper meaning in their lives.

A lot of the people there have anxious personalities - they get up and pace during conversations, they drum absent-mindedly on their lap and they smoke - a lot. Probably the bulk of conversation that day took place outside, around the fire, so that people could smoke. While we were out there, we helped make a giant pot of fish soup, and then watched it cook on the fire. During this time, the men went into the banya to wash themselves before praying again.

In the evening, we spread a tablecloth on the floor and all gathered around, and ate, and talked. They asked me questions about myself and my future. We discussed popular perceptions of America. Adel brought me his suitcase to put my bowl on so that I wouldn't have to bend down so far, but added the warning, "This is only because today you are our guest. Next time when you come, you won't be a guest anymore, so don't get used to any special treatment!" I thought it was such a nice sentiment that I couldn't stop smiling. I was in such a good mood that I even ate the fish heads that were in the soup, something that I might not normally have enjoyed with such relish.

Then, a student named Damir talked about the significance of certain religiously relevant people and everyone sat on the floor and asked questions. Toward the end of his speech, everyone was tired. We'd been there all day talking about faith, struggle, and culture. One of the people with whom I'd come had fallen asleep. We left Damir to finish his speech with the others, it was getting late and the sun had already set. In the car Ildar, told me that his head hurt from being stuffed with too much information. He said that although he believes in Allah, he doesn't think he's ready to be a religious person yet. Faith is a hard jump to make.

I just remember feeling very lucky to have gotten the chance to go and meet these people, very lucky that they had accepted me so sincerely. It was amazing to feel that not a moment of that day was wasted. I remember thinking that this was one of the best days that I had spent in Kazan. Ildar said he'd take me back, but he himself hasn't gone back yet. It's a sacrifice to give up your only day off for the sake of spiritual pursuits. Like he said, he isn't ready yet, it's too much, too soon. But it makes me feel good to know that that house is always there, that the group is waiting every Sunday for people who are in trouble and looking to help themselves and each other. I'm proud of all of them and wish them all the best.

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