Former drug addict says mother’s tears, not arrest, became biggest wake-up call

SEREMBAN – The most painful moment in Adam’s life was not when he was arrested by the authorities at the age of 17, but when he saw his mother break down in tears after discovering he had fallen into drug addiction.

Adam (not his real name), the second of three siblings, was previously placed at Henry Gurney School in Melaka after the court found him guilty of possessing methamphetamine.

“When I saw how disappointed my mum was, I felt deeply guilty. I knew I had destroyed my family’s hopes.

“That is the moment I still find the hardest to forget,” he told Sinar while recounting his life story.

Now aged 24, Adam stood as a very different man from the teenager who had once lost himself to drug abuse.

He admitted that rebuilding his life had not been easy, as what started out as curiosity at the age of 15 under the influence of friends eventually turned into an addiction that changed the course of his life.

His drug dependency also caused him to lose focus on his studies, leading him to drop out of school while in Form Four.

“I thought I could stop taking drugs whenever I wanted, but over time I became dependent on them.

“At that point, my only goal in life was to buy drugs. I worked at a vehicle spare parts and battery shop to earn money,” he said.

Adam said almost all of his wages were spent on drugs and that he had also become involved in online gambling without his family’s knowledge.

His time at Henry Gurney School, however, marked the beginning of a turning point after he was given the opportunity to resume his studies and eventually sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

“Every night during my early days at Henry Gurney, I cried because I had only just realised the magnitude of the mistakes I had made. Every time I thought about my mum’s face, I felt overwhelming regret,” he said.

After his release, Adam received an offer to further his studies but was forced to put those plans aside because of his family’s financial difficulties.

With few options available, he worked at a hotel in Melaka before returning to his hometown in Negeri Sembilan, where he earned a living as a general works contractor.

Meanwhile, Adam’s mother, who wished to be known only as Nur, 53, expressed gratitude for the positive changes in her son.

She said she was also touched that Adam now played an active role in supporting the family.

“Adam also cared for his ailing stepfather until he passed away.

“As a mother, I only want to see him continue moving forward and build a better life,” she said.