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.