Korsakoff Psychosis following involuntary treatment for alcohol use disorder

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are a major cause of global mortality and morbidity. In India, Alcohol Use Disorder is among the most prevalent of these [1]. Inadequate knowledge about the illness and its treatment, lack of resources, and regressive government policies (criminalisation of drug use itself and lack of prioritisation for SUD treatment) are among the reasons for the large gap between the need for facilities and their availability [2]. Under Section 71 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, central and state governments are required to establish centres for identification and treatment of SUDs, but many states lack such rules [3]. This has led to the establishment of a large number of unauthorised "de-addiction" centres, most of which have not registered under the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA), 2017, and do not possess government accreditation for good clinical practice [4]. These centres exploit the need for treatment, and the desperation of family members seeking care for their loved ones. They commit medical malpractice and ethical and human rights violations [5]. Instead of providing medical care, they mete out "punishments" to patients, inflicting suffering and in some cases causing irreparable harm to vulnerable people.