For two years, 31-year-old Sunny Sidhu was addicted to Kamini tablets. He says the tablets were highly addictive and the process of weaning off was extremely difficult.
When SBS Punjabi revealed in an exclusive investigation last month, how illegal sales of Kamini tablets were thriving in Melbourne’s speciality grocery stores, Mr Sidhu’s advice to anyone hooked onto it was to give it up immediately.
“It’s not worth it,” he said.
Born and brought up in Australia, Mr Sidhu was introduced to Kamini, which is presented as an Indian herbal aphrodisiac, by an ‘Indian’ friend.
Listen to what Sunny Sidhu has to say about Kamini addiction:
He says the easy availability of the drug at Indian stores was a big reason that he remained hooked on it for so long.
He says he began with just one pill a day, but in a short time, he needed to have many tablets in order to get through the day.
Kamini tablets Source: SBS Punjabi
Mr Sidhu said weaning off the drug wasn’t the easiest thing.
“I had aches and pains, I couldn’t sleep at night and my legs were shaky. I went to my GP and he couldn’t understand why it was happening. He put me on painkillers for two-three weeks. But throughout those two-three weeks, it was just hell,” he said.
It’s been over a year now and Sunny hasn’t taken Kamini again.
He says a couple of his Australian friends are also addicted to Kamini.
“They have been introduced to this drug, I don’t know by whom, not by myself. And, I have seen them buying it. I’d say it’s the same thing like they’ve been trying some other drug then they got on to this.
“I mean, if it’s easily available, anyone can go and buy it. It’s not you need contacts. It’s available under the counter. Someone goes and buys it, they get addicted and they go and buy again and they keep going back for more.”
Watch: Exclusive investigation reveals sales of illegal opiates in grocery stores in Australia.
He says this drug affects not just the individual addicted to it, but the whole family.
“When I started taking them, they were sort of cheap.. $70-80 for a small bottle. Then the prices increased. Now it’s $100-120. Plus you are going through health problems as well as financial problems. People with family and kids, it’s a lot of burden on them.”
To those who are still addicted to it, Mr Sidhu has a clear message.
“Get professional help, try to get off it. It’s not worth it. It’s not doing any good if you are driving a taxi or a truck. Your mental alertness goes down with it, contrary to what some people doing 13-hour shift believe.”
For more news and updates, follow SBS Punjabi on.
