Family History/Background

We don’t blame our families for our addiction. They loved us and took good care of us. They might not have been able to spend every minute of their time with us but they did the best they could.

“I always had a very happy childhood with my family. My father ran his own business while mum was a housewife. We never had any problems, I never saw my father arguing with my mother for anything.” (MF, male recovering addict, 26 years old).

We come from a variety of backgrounds. There are those who were given too much, or those who were treated badly and those who didn’t know who their parents were.

“I was looked after by my grandfather and grandmother but they did not love me at all. I got food from friends and my grandmother would do whatever she wanted to me, when she wanted to. She would beat me. When I was hungry and begging for food she would throw the plate of food at my head.” (X, female addict, 22 years old).

There was always someone to look after us; we weren’t abandoned on the streets. We were all given food, shelter and clothing. There is nothing special or different about us but we took advantage of the love and trust given to us. We don’t blame our families for our drug problems, but without the parental skills and understanding and without knowing the reality of the problem, our families supported us while we explored our Junkie attitudes.

“I love my son, I believe in him, I never had any problems with him, and there is no reason why he should blame us for his addiction. Even when I came to know he was using drugs, I never told anybody. I didn’t complain and I always took care of him. I don’t know why he went to drugs, there is no reason for him to go to drugs.” (NB, father of an active addict, 55 years old).

Basic Demographic Data

We collected two hundred questionnaires from Male’, Himmafushi, Maafushi Prison and Addu. Nineteen were only partially completed and not used in the final analysis. The sample consists of one hundred and eighty-one questionnaires, 139 male and 24 female, a further 18 participants had not answered the questions. Our sample consists of more men than women, which reflects the current situation in the Maldives.

Sex	Number of Respondents	Percentage %
Male	139	76.8
Female	24	13.3
No Answer	18	9.9
Total	181	100

Although there are women who are using drugs, it is more common among the men. Due to the culture in the Maldives, drug use behaviour differs between the sexes as well. Women use drugs in secret, they don’t even smoke cigarettes on the streets. Such behaviour is less accepted for women and women who do use drugs would do it less openly than the men. They might use with the men but they will not come outside onto the street like the men do. It is more common to see male users out on the streets in Male’. Men are more likely to get arrested or taken in for some criminal activity that might not even be linked to drugs. Therefore there are more men in the drug rehabilitation centers and the jails. Drug abuse remains more hidden in the female population.

Educational Background	Number of Respondents	Percentage %
Primary School	30	16.6
Secondary School	107	59.1
Senior Secondary	19	10.5
College/University	15	8.3
Never attended school	6	3.3
No Answer	18	9.9
Total	181	100

The majority of our sample has completed secondary school; this is grade 8 – 10. This means that these girls and boys are not very well educated and would have difficulties in finding work. This generally leads to increased relapse because if there is nothing for us to do and if there is nothing we can do then the way we think is that we might as well be using drugs. We have nothing else to do. We didn’t realize that when we decided to not to continue with school after our O’Levels. We weren’t interested in studying because we thought it was more important to have fun with our friends. We thought that we had finished our O’levels and that was all we had to know. Very little attention is given to the maintenance of our education by us or by anyone else. It is almost as if drug addicts don’t deserve to be educated. If you are found using drugs, then you are expelled from school, that is of course if you haven’t already dropped out because school was getting in the way of your drug use. If you are convicted of drug related behaviour, then you have to go to Jail or you might get the chance of going to rehab. Whichever it is, that is the end of your education. You have to leave school or you are expelled from school. There is no going back either. Our education is not encouraged when we are at the institutions and it is often too late to start again we were return to Male’. By the time we come back there are no opportunities available to us. We already have little interest in school and education due to our drug use. But even while using, we manage to pass our exams. Quite often, however we lack educational qualifications because of our drugs and addiction. In 1980, all the students involved in drug incidents were expelled from school. This is usually what happens. There is no focus on trying to reintegrate them into the community, treat them and continue with their education. But things are changing. Now, there are counselors in the schools to try and identify risk behaviours and there is an increased focus on prevention. But it is still not enough; there are students who are using. There are young girls who smoke hash oil, even while at school. Teachers have to be told how to deal with these problems.

“There is a boy in Grade 2 in my school. He’s started smoking. We don’t know how to deal with the problem or what to do with him. So we have taken him away from the other students. We don’t want him teaching them things and the only thing we can do is isolate him for a little while. We don’t know how to deal with situations like that and we are don’t know what we are supposed to do. Keeping him away is not going to help him. But if we aren’t trained and taught how to handle these problems then there is nothing we can do. (FGD with teachers, Addu).

It’s a vicious circle yet again. We aren’t educated because of our drug use and when we come back from Jail or rehab it is impossible to find a job or something to do because of our lack of education and skills. We are left with nothing to do everyday and no support structure, which often leads us to relapse.

Who We Are

We are the drug addicts. They call us the “Paateys,[1]” but that’s not all we are or what we want to be. We are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. There are people who love us and who we love too. We don’t want to be labeled as “Faiy-boa [2]” or by any other name. We don’t want to be stigmatised, isolated or punished. We want to be treated like normal people, we want to be like you and we are part of you. The difference is that we are the addicts.

Why did we become addicts? And why did we start abusing drugs? This is a question everybody needs to answer. We want to know the answer too and we are working on it now. But we wonder if the community is ready to face reality.

We often ask ourselves why this happened to us. Why not to our brothers and sisters? They say that at least one member of every family in the Maldives is addicted to drugs. We wonder why we suffered through addiction. But the reality is that our families suffer along with us. Now, as recovering addicts we no longer ask why we became addicts? Instead, we ask how we became the lucky ones, why are we able to work successfully at our recovery when there are so many others who are trying as well.

We ask you now to look at us as normal people, not as your enemies. We accept the mistakes we have made and we realise the pain and anger we have put you through. We have been to hell and back and most of the time we have dragged you along with us. We are now trying to make you understand and give you a glimpse of our world.

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[1] Paatey – name used for the drug addicts in the Maldives.

[2] Faiy-Boa – named used to describe someone using drugs.

Coming To Know Us

“I am so worried about keeping the doors of my home open. These paateys come and steal anything in sight. The last time one of them grabbed my son’s telephone and ran away. I wish that the government would eradicate them” (Focus Group Discussion, Community members, Mundoo camp, Laamu)

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This is not a script from your favorite drama series nor is it a clipping from a story. These are the stories that you hear every day of your life in the Maldives or even more frequently.
We are the ‘Paateys’ in our society. We are the people who hang around on the streets, making your life hell. We are those people whom you may think are better off dead. The ones who steal your things, threatens you and generally creates chaos in your peaceful neighborhoods and in your homes.
We agree with you as well. We accept this description you have for us, because it is true. We have harmed people and damaged our community. We have done all the bad things you talk about. You name it; we have done it!
But how long are you going to keep us, the ‘Paateys’ in the shadows? How long are you going to ignore the problem of drug abuse and addiction? How long are you going to ignore us, the addicts? How long are you going to pretend that drug abuse is not happening in our country? How long are you going to pretend that drug abuse or addiction would never happen to someone close to you? How long are you going to hide the addicts in your home? And how would you know how to answer, if one your loved ones are in the shadows too? How are you going to prevent drug abuse and addiction from happening to you and your family members, if you ignore that addiction is a problem in our country? Ignoring it would not make it go away and it would not make us go away either. Ignoring us, hiding us in the shadows, would not cure us, and would not make the problem disappear.
Everyone believes that drug addicts can never recover. For a long time we believed it too, but now we are trying to prove we can. We could be wrong and we could never recover but we are not going to know unless we try. Just like you are not going to know anything about us, unless you try to get to know us. Shouldn’t you come to your own conclusions about us? It’s easier to accept the common belief. Instead of condemning us straight away, listen to our stories. Find out why we do what we do, and try and accept us.
We are not looking for approval. Instead we are looking for understanding and support and your help in our recovery. Our difficult journey is not what we wish for the future generation. We would like not to have to see other young people growing up ending up as addicts like us. We had to go through difficult times just to stop. We do not wish that for the next generation.
For that reason, we want to tell you about our lives and we want to tell you about the drugs and more. We ask for your help to change the situation for the younger generation. We want to prove to you that addicts do recover and can help you in the fight against drug abuse and addiction.
The choice is up to you. There are many of you who don’t want to see us or hear from us. They are those who say that the only solution to the drug problem is a speedy death to all the addicts.
There are times when we think this would be an easier way out, but then … are you going to kill the next person and the ones that come after that? Are you going to wish death on your sons and daughters also? If it is wished on us,
Our death is not a solution. Our recovery is.
We are now recovering addicts. You might not believe us because sometimes we find it hard to believe as well. But we try to be clean every day – one day at a time. We haven’t fully recovered and we will probably always be recovering. We maintain our recovery just for today. We will be clean and sober and the days will add up. We become stronger, more confident and have more self-respect. We are the lucky ones who are able to begin the journey to recovery, and this is the journey we are inviting you to share. It is too late for a lot of us though. Our friends, brothers and sisters are too far gone to help; some have died from drugs. How many more are going to? How many people will die because of drugs and addiction?
We can’t ignore the problem anymore, hide away from society and hope it goes away. Its not going away and it is only getting worse. That is a fact that nobody can deny, addict or non-addict. Our world of addiction is not as hidden as everyone thinks. Our actions will affect your world as well. The disease of addiction and other diseases like HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C will not only affect us but will affect you as well. The problem affects us all. It is something that we have to face together.
It’s time we worked together to fix the problem. We all need healing now.
This survey is a way we feel will bridge the gap between addict and non-addict. It is where we try to remove the stigma and discrimination between our worlds. This is our first step into your world. This is how we try to give something back to the community we destroyed. This is how we try to be a part of the solution instead of the problem. These are our stories. This is what we have gone through and the experiences that make us who we are. To accept us; you have to keep an open mind. To support us; you have to understand.
This is what we offer you to try and make up for the damage we have done. This is our gift to the Maldives. We offer this study with sincerity, humility and dignity. We offer this to you with hope. We hope that you will invite us to work alongside you and we hope that it makes a difference.

Drugs Situation in Maldives #03

The findings of this assessment highlight the need for more awareness campaigns. There is a lack of proper information about addiction, risk behaviours and drugs. This lack of awareness in the community leads to stigma and discrimination towards the addicts in the population. The alienation and loneliness experienced by the addict increases their vulnerability to drugs and makes it more difficult for them to abstain from drug use. This vulnerability is further increased by lack of education, formal employment and healthy entertainment opportunities. Furthermore, the overcrowding experienced by one third of the population residing in Male’ acts as an antecedent to violence and substance misuse amongst young people (de Lind van Wijngaarden, 2006). The upheavals experienced by the devastating tsunami in 2004 have increased feelings of boredom, confusion, frustration and a lack of control and can be considered further antecedents to substance use.

The need for increased technical expertise in treatment and aftercare services is also apparent. The Maldivian government and the community recognises the growing problem of substance use and the need for treatment and aftercare services. However further strengthening of programs and services is necessary to reduce the rates of relapse.

It is impossible to put a figure to the amount of addicts in the country today. We choose not to commit ourselves to a number because it is a dynamic quantity and is constantly changing. We feel that any extrapolation methods we do carry out using the data from the rehabilitation centers and the police will greatly underestimate the true number of addicts in the population. One thing we know for sure if that even though we do not give you a number of addicts, we do know that each and every Maldivian has been affected by this problem. There are too many addicts to ignore and not rehabilitating them would have a tremendous impact on Maldivian society.

Drugs Situation in Maldives #02

Injecting drug use also increases the risk of blood borne diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. Though Maldivians are aware of HIV/AIDS, awareness of Hepatitis B and C are limited in the country. However, awareness of the diseases does not appear to have an impact on the behavior of the addicts. Safe methods are not practiced when injecting and focus group respondents report sharing needle and drug paraphernalia.

The risk of exposure to blood borne disease is further increased by the practice of unsafe sexual behaviours. Not only does the transient population in the Maldives make the country vulnerable to HIV and Hepatitis, the sexual activities of the addict population further increases this vulnerability and risk. The Maldivian population, addict or non-addict, is very sexually active with some Maldivians becoming sexually active as young as 9 years in age. However, safety is not a great concern. Since pre-marital sex is against the law in the 100% Muslim country, the term safe sex refers to ‘legal’ sex (sex after marriage) in the Maldives rather than sex using protection. Topics like sex and condoms are not discussed openly in the Maldives. Discussions with the addict population reveal various kinds of sexual activity, including pre-marital sex, group sex and homosexuality. Sexual abuse is also common in the community. Commercial sex work is carried with respondents reporting contact with commercial sex workers as well as using sex work as a source of drugs. Risk perception of these behaviours is low. Though Maldives enjoys a relatively low prevalence of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), the risk from drug abuse is not one that can be ignored.

The stability of the country is in danger due to the increases in violence and crime. Results show a distinct increase after drug use and communication with prison officials’ reports that at least 85% of the inmates are addicts. Discussions with the inmates themselves reveal that drugs are available in the prisons. The current stringent law does not appear to act as a deterrent towards initial drug use. To provide a solution to the problem the drug law should have an increased focus on rehabilitating the addict.

Drugs Situation in Maldives #01

Drug abuse is often a hidden problem in most countries and Maldives is no exception. The Republic of Maldives is made up of 1,192 islands and is well known for its beautiful sandy white beaches. However, the problem of drug abuse and addiction that Maldives faces is a lesser-known fact. Drug use, abuse and addiction have become one of the most serious problems that Maldives has to overcome. Drug addiction has increased dramatically over the years and is reaching epidemic proportions. The total population of the Maldives is approximately 300,000 and the majority is made up of young people. The abuse of illicit drugs, such as heroin, pharmaceuticals and sniffing glue is increasing among adolescents and youth in the country. The changing trends and patterns of the drug culture has made it necessary to assess the current situation to fully understand the extent of the problem at hand.

One of the strengths of this survey is that a team of recovering addicts carried out the research. As ex-users they have easier access to the addict population and the reliability and accuracy of the information gathered is increased. Involving them in this process not only increases their understanding of the situation, but also allows them to become a part of the solution. They have valuable insights to contribute to the development of prevention and treatment services.

This assessment is also aimed at increasing the community’s awareness and knowledge about addiction and addicts in the Maldives. Currently, addiction is regarded as a crime and the strategy that Maldives follows is one of abstinence and the response to relapse involves punitive measures. This does not make it conducive for the addict to seek help.

Pressure from friends, curiosity and experimentation are reported as reasons for drug use initiation. Maldives is unique because the drug of initial experimentation is usually heroin. However the decreased availability of the drug does not reduce the problem but instead causes a change in the drug of choice. Hash oil use, as well as, the use of inhalants such as Dunlop, tablets and even methamphetamine is reported to be increasing. The patterns and behaviors of drug abuse are changing.

The increased tolerance and decreased availability of heroin has led to a shift toward injecting drug use. Discussions with respondents have also revealed that hash oil injecting is taking place. The results from the questionnaires reveal that twenty eight percent of the sample have injected heroin. This is an increase from the eight percent reported in the UNDP survey conducted in 2003. During this assessment alone there have been six cases of overdose resulting in death from using needles.

THE CHALLENGE

Illicit drugs are a global impediment to the social and economic development of nations.

The impact of the drug scourge has been particularly severe on the Maldives, threatening her prosperity, good health, and indeed her whole future.

In the past decade we have intensified our efforts to stop the drug menace.

But we, as a nation, need to do even more to ensure that criminals, who put their own interests before those of the nation, do not take our common heritage away from us.

The lesson we learn from other countries is that drug abuse is a hydra-like multifaceted issue.

It requires a balanced well-coordinated multi-sectoral approach, encompassing measures to stop illicit drugs from entering the country and to reduce the demand for them.

Both these aspects are equally important and need to be given the same, high priority.

We, therefore, call upon all Maldivians, as indeed the international community, to support fully our efforts to eliminate the scourge of illicit drugs from the Maldives and beyond our borders.

This is the challenge and we must commit ourselves to this challenge.