Representatives of the international public organization for recovering drug-addicts Anonymous Drug Addicts or ADA gathered for an international four-day meeting in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

St. Petersburg has a high rate of drug addiction as evidenced by its HIV rate that is among the highest in the country. Most of those infected with HIV have received the virus through intravenous injections. "We gather here to discuss our common needs... and share our experience of the ways of recovering for drug addicts," Simon, a British former addict, said Wednesday at a press conference.

ADA was founded in 1953 to help people addicted to drugs but wanting to break the habit.

ADA's program of recovering involves a succession of certain actions known as 12 Steps. The steps include such actions as acknowledgment of the problem; appeal for help; honest self-estimation; trustful narration about oneself; compensation of the damage that person caused to surrounding people; and help other drug-addicts who want to recover.

One of the ADA's main concepts is that a drug-addict who managed to quit can be the most successful adviser to others who are still hooked. To provide such help ADA's members gather at regular meetings and share their experience on how they gave up drugs.

Viktor, St. Petersburg representative of ADA, said the movement started in the city in 1990 and now unites about 600 people. Membership at ADA is free, but people can contribute financially to the organization's work if they have the opportunity or wish to do so.

News source: www.sptimes.ru
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