Prison did not help me – AADK did, says former drug addict 

SANDAKAN – After battling an addiction to methamphetamine for eight years, a single mother of three here is finally free from her affliction, thanks to the Sandakan National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). 

“Being imprisoned did not help me, but the AADK has saved my life,” she shared. 

Sabturiah Abdullah*, 36, shared her experience of how she recovered from drug addiction with the help of a government agency. 

She recalled that she got married when she was 20 years old and had three kids in five years. 

“Unfortunately, my husband passed away when I was 25 years old. I was a single mother with three children at the time, working as security personnel at a private company. 

“I noticed that my colleagues at the time would talk about using drugs (syabu) and they would talk about it like it was normal – like everyone does it. 

“One day, when we were hanging out at one of their homes, they started taking out the equipment that I had never seen before and started taking syabu. I was quiet, and they offered me to try. 

“I remembered being extremely curious at the time. I said yes, and took the drugs, and I became addicted to it,” she said. 

Sabturiah said her whole life started changing after her first try as she would constantly feel the urge to get more drugs. 

“My family did not know that I was doing drugs at the time. It went on for eight years until I was busted by the police during a raid one night (2019). I was then sentenced to eight months of imprisonment. 

“Spending my time in prison did not help me with my addiction at all. Not only was I stressed out, but the boredom from just staring at four walls had also me thinking about drugs day and night. 

“When I was finally released from prison, it crossed my mind to find a drug dealer. But, a part of me thought: enough is enough. Now that I have received a second chance in life after being released, I have to start becoming a new person. 

“Thankfully, God heard my prayers and I was referred to the Sandakan AADK for treatment and rehabilitation process. I was enrolled into the community programme, and everyone in AADK has been so supportive,” she said. 

Sabturiah said that in prison, the people, especially the prison guards, treated them like criminals, as sinners who do not deserve respect. 

“However, it is different in AADK where we were treated with not only respect but also with love. We feel their love; they care for us, are concerned about us, and sincerely want to help us in our journey of recovery. 

“Although I can get such support and love from my mother and children, support from AADK felt more like it is from the society. I felt motivated to continue my recovery; it pushed me to do better so that I would not disappoint them,” she said. 

Sabturiah was enrolled on a compulsory community programme with AADK for two years. 

The Vibes met her during the Recovery Day Programme with Sandakan AADK clients here, last Tuesday. She had received the Excellent Performance Award for staying drug-free a year after completing the treatment and rehabilitation programme with AADK. 

She now has a stable job as a cleaner and is raising her three children with the help of her mother. 

“I love my life now – I am living a clean life without drugs. I love being a law-abiding citizen. I don’t need to constantly worry or be afraid, or always feel like I have done something wrong,” she said. 

When asked if she ever blamed her former colleagues for influencing her to take drugs, she said no because she was responsible for saying yes in the first place. 

“I don’t blame them. I was the one who was curious and wanted to try the drugs. 

“My message to the youths out there is, don’t be curious (about taking drugs). There is nothing good that will come out of taking drugs,” she said. 

It is a public perception that one must be imprisoned if the government finds out that the person is using drugs, but it is not true. 

People should know that if the police arrest a drug addict, they would use Section 15 (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries a punishment of a maximum RM5,000 fine or two years imprisonment if found guilty. 

But if a person surrenders himself to the AADK, or if he is reported to the AADK by family members, medical specialists would then determine whether the person was to be put under 6(1)(a) or 6(1)(b) of the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983. 

If it is under the first, he will be detained in the Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centres (Puspen) for two years, and if it is the second, he will have to report to the AADK office once a month for the next two years. 

Unlike the prison, Puspen has a support team that would conduct various programmes to help the person recover from addiction. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, contact the AADK near you for assistance. – The Vibes, May 9, 2022

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the source.