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