A former drug addict comes clean about his ordeal

A former drug addict comes clean about his ordeal

A drug addict for four years, 19-year-old "Indra" finally came
out of the abyss and has stayed clean for a year. He shared his
story with The Jakarta Post on how he first got started and how
he came clean.

Question: When did you start using drugs? What brought you to
that world?

Answer: I started using drugs when I was 14. It all began when
I went to my friend's house, and he was smoking pot. He asked me
if I wanted to try the stuff, I said no. But then he said I was
chicken, and so I said OK.

What happened then? Did you like the feeling?

No. It was terrible. I threw up. But my friend told me to give
it another try, and the second time, it felt good. I felt very
light, like I was flying.

Did it make you to want to use it more?

Yes. I couldn't stop using it. It was easy to get the stuff in
my school. A lot of students sell it for around Rp 50,000 (about
US$6) to Rp 100,000 per gram ...

Did you try any other drugs, such as low-grade heroin?

Of course. After marijuana, I tried everything from LSD, low-
grade heroin to crystal methamphetamine.

Did you inject heroin and share needles with your friend?

I once injected heroin and shared the syringe with a friend.
But I didn't continue.

Didn't you know that the practice is dangerous, that you could
contract HIV?

I knew all about the dangers of using drugs. But I couldn't do
anything at the time as I was in too deep.

What made you stop?"

My parents found out about me and they beat me like hell.

What did they do beside beating you?

They brought me to Singapore for a detoxification program.

How long did you stay there? Was the program effective? Did it
change you in a way?

I stayed there for one year. I think it's quite effective as
not only did they put me into the detox program, they also had
this one-on-one session where I could just say anything that
bothered me, anything that made me angry, anything that I didn't
feel comfortable talking about with my parents. They also taught
me how to be a cool person without even having to touch the
dreadful stuff.

Did you take a HIV test?

I did, and thank God it was negative.

After coming back, has anybody, such as your friends, ever
invited you to smoke pot again? Did you find yourself being
unable to resist their offer?

I guess there's always this temptation, this seductive thought
to use it again. I admit there were times when I was about to
give in. But thank God, I didn't.

What made you not give in?

My parents, my sister, my family. I don't want to disappoint
them for the second time. I think I've put them through enough
roller-coaster experience. For once, I want to make them proud of
me.

So, does it mean that you regret the whole thing?

I regret that I put my parents in a situation where they could
do nothing but pray that their only son would not die of an
overdose or AIDS. But I don't regret I made a play with the
devil.

Why?

(There was a five-minute pause before he finally gave his
answer) I don't regret it because no matter how bad it was, I see
it as another experience that will enrich my life and teach me to
make better judgments in the future.

After what you've been through, what do you have to say to
teenagers?

Just say 'No' to drugs. Don't listen to people when they call
you chicken or whatever. Let them be. Because if you give in to
what they say, you'll ruin your life -- and they won't be there
to help you.

-- Dewi Santoso