Common Interesting

Routine Activities

2008-12-08T17:55:00.000+05:00

As drug addicts, the first thing we do when we wake up, is use drugs. Without drugs it was impossible to get through the day. We always found it wise to have a supply on hand at all times, but sometimes we had to go to bed without any for the next morning. We’d then have to go out into the street for our morning fix.

“When I have no stuff for the morning I feel sick even when I fall asleep thinking of the pain that I have to suffer in the morning. In the morning I wake up and do not even make an effort to wash my face. I go straight on the street. I walked but felt no tiredness in my legs. I went from place to place searching for drugs. When I got my stuff I use it and then go looking for it again and again. So in short I can say that my life revolved around finding and using. Nothing mattered to me anymore.” (FS, female recovering addict, 25 years old).

It was normal for us to start our day with drugs. It is normal to use drugs whenever we had to do anything. Our priority was the drugs and we would choose it over anything else.
Although this was our life, it bothered us a lot too. We were not like this before we went into addiction. Suddenly, it was normal for us to be lying, cheating and stealing to get our drugs. This was not what we wanted to be or do but we felt that there was no other choice.

“I remember going through heavy withdrawals one whole night (that was my 17th birthday) and near dawn I got stuff and used it. I felt barely okay and knew that my withdrawals would strike me again in another hour or so. I did not have any money so I went at that odd hour to friend of mine and asked him whether he could give me some money so that I could take some of my friends out for an ice cream. I swore that I had stopped drug using and I was doing okay and he gave me check, which I could only cash out around 9 in the morning. I felt sick for cheating someone who was so dear to me and cried the whole while I was using up the money he gave me.” (FS, female addict, 23 years old).

Age Of First Drug Use

2008-12-08T13:13:00.000+05:00

Figure 2: Graph showing responses for ages of first time use across substance
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The typical addict in the Maldives usually starts using drugs between the ages of 12 to 16. This was the time that our friends mattered to us more than anything or anyone else, and we desperately wanted to fit in. We did it just for the kick, to show people that we were tough. We could not risk being labeled “un-cool” (katu[1]) by our friends, so when it was offered to us for the first time we could not refuse. We had it and found that it was something that was too good to ever say no.

“My friends used tablets then but they did not push me. I felt very left alone when they are on a high so I thought that perhaps I would use. And I did and I got so crazy “ (NP, addict, age unknown).

We could not risk saying no to our friends. We could tell them that we were afraid of what might happen if someone found out. Our friends could turn to be real bullies if they wanted to and can even embarrass us in public. We used just to let them know that we were made of the stuff that they wanted.

From that moment, our behavior changed rapidly. We changed physically and mentally. Our values changed and so did our priorities. Our whole world focused on drugs and the high that it brought us. Everything else was a burden. Our life started officially in the hidden world of addiction and the drugs had become our lives and we didn’t have time for anything else.

It is a fact that during the first days of drug use, there were many people who were willing to give us drugs. We were invited to use and given more than we could take. Wherever we looked, we had people willing to share their drugs with us. We felt that we were accepted and we became more confident.

“I started seeing this girl who lived at the house I bought my drugs from. She was very young then around 12 years old. She would come over to my house as well. One day she told me that she wanted to try some drugs. I thought she was using anyway because her family was using and she lived in that house. She asked me what drugs I used, and I told her that I liked to mix my drugs. I used heroin and I used tablets as well as hash. I told her I had Valium, joints and grass with me. She wanted to try some Valium. After she took the tablets she said she was feeling hot and took off her shirt. I started rolling a joint because I knew she would want to try that too. I knew what would happen if she smoked the joint while she was on the Valium as well. I knew it would be easier for me to have sex with her when she was like that. After that she was always at my house. She spent more time with my family than I did. She had easy access to my house and room and she could get into my drug stash that way. She only stopped coming by when she found out that I had slept with her cousin.” (IM, male recovering addict, 33 years old).

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“A foreigner introduced us to heroin. I was about 14 years old. He came to my friends’ house where we used to hang out. We all tasted it and we found that it was better than hash oil. We get higher on it. We get more active and it feels like we are in Heaven. That man gave us 15 grams for free. I didn’t know anything about heroin and at the time I didn’t want to know anything about it either. We didn’t sell it, we decided to keep it somewhere safe and have fun with it together. We used it daily.” (AA, male recovering addict, 27 years old).

We wanted them to remain our friends so we gave what we could. We had access to money. So we could spend that money on our newfound friends. But as we fell deeper into addiction, we realized that this was not a genuine gesture of friendship or love. This was a phase of the game. After we became dependent on the drugs we found that the people who willingly offered it to us before did not want to give it to us anymore. We had to beg, borrow or steal in order to get our fix.

Sometimes if we had no money, the dealers would request us to hand over such valued items. Later, we ran out of our money and had no way to get hold of the drugs. By that time our parents and family were aware of our problems and that is when the real troubles begin. Our secret is no longer a secret; instead it was out in the open. Everyone knew about it but in our “ignorance is bliss” mode - we would just deny it.

[1] katu: Dhivehi word for ‘uncool’

Our Introduction To Drugs

2008-12-08T12:42:00.000+05:00

Figure 1: Pie Chart showing who introduced the respondents to drugs

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We’d start off smoking cigarettes and that was okay. But after few days, we wanted to experience something stronger and different, and more fun than cigarettes. Earlier, it was ‘grass’ or ‘weed’ (marijuana or ‘faiy[1]’) and ‘hash-oil’ (theyo[2]), which was available, but since 1992 ‘brown-sugar’ or hakuru (brown sugar - heroin) was available and became the choice of drug for most of us.

“I remember first time I used ganja with our friends, “Oh man, this is crazy, I am using ganja”, If someone finds out, I’ll be in deep shit” (Rd, male addict, 38 years).

In most cases, our friends introduced us to drugs (80%). For some of us it was our boyfriends and girlfriends (4%). Most of us had siblings in our families who used as well (3%), or more other family members (4%) we knew used drugs. We used together but we did not introduce it to them. Our younger siblings probably learned about it through us and maybe they started it with their friends. Once we found out that they were using, we used together. We tried to protect each other’s back and did each other favors.

"Before I was got into the addiction, my brother was already an addict. But I never tried to make him stop. I was always with them, my brother and his gang. One day I got a call from some of my friends. They said that they were in trouble. I love my brother and my friends so I got involved in them. But I had never used drugs. I was arrested for robbery and I was banished to an island for 1 year and 6 months. At the time I used to deal all kinds of drugs. After some time I was released and I came back to Male’. The Police killed my brother and I started using drugs that same day. That day I went to many people for help but I got none. All I got that day was the drugs. Drugs became my best friend, I would be with the devil everyday". (AN, male recovering addict, 23 years old).

In 2000, I was working on a resort and I came back to Male’ on holiday. That’s when I found out that my little brother was using heroin. I was sick that day and he knew it and asked me if I needed some heroin. I said yes and for the first time I used heroin with my brother. I used heroin with him for 4 years. (MA, male recovering addict, 24 years old).

We were using drugs in the places we used to hang out in, either at a friend’s place or somewhere where we had access to freedom. We were chasing the dragon so it had to be a closed place where there would be no wind. But after that, our using places changed from place to place and we didn’t care where we were, as or where we had to go as long as we got our drugs.
The following shows you most of us got drugs from our friends. Do you know who your children’s friends are?

Sick – used to describe effects of withdrawal
[1] Dhivehi word for marijuana
[2] Dhivehi word for hash oil

Reasons For Using Drugs

2008-11-15T18:57:00.000+05:00

We loved to be different, we needed to be noticed, and we want to be salhi[1]. We want to be accepted by the gadda[2] group. It’s as simple as that. We just wanted to be like the cool kids. We were curious about drugs. They say that curiosity killed the cat, and the drugs slowly began to kill us.

“I had three cousins who were active addicts at that time, I really don't know what it was, but when they use their code word like "G. mihaaru libeytha[3]" I was always curious. I had a gut feeling about it; maybe that gut feeling took me where I am. I always liked their freedom.” (AL, male recovering addict, 27 years old).

We don’t think that anyone who starts using drugs wants to get addicted. We never thought that something we took to get a high could give us the biggest low of our lives. We have all seen what drugs do to people but we felt that we were somehow different; we were better than they were. That we had enough will power to stop whenever we wanted and that we would not go that far.

“I remember seeing my uncles in their stoned state and I swore that I would never use drugs ever. But when the time came it felt like the best thing that I could do. I was curious and even when I started using I was not using to get addicted. But before I knew it I was a full-blown addict roaming around on the street. I was worse than my uncles” (II, female recovering addict, 21 years old).

Our reasons for addiction aren’t too different from each other. There was a need for getting respect from our friends. We wanted to have everyone’s approval. We often crave for approval, respect and love. We got it from the drugs; we got it from other addicts.

“Most of us used because we felt that it was a great idea at that time. We wanted to belong to the group. We used for a variety of reasons ranging from curiosity, to be cool, to appear tough, to escape problems that stressed us out and also to have fun” (FGD 10th July 2006).

For many of us, drugs became a means of averting emotional or physical pain. It provided a temporary escape or way to cope with life's realities. The drugs seemed to solve our problems and we would feel better. When we were using it became easier to deal with life and the drugs become invaluable to us. We start looking at drugs as a cure for unwanted feelings. The painkilling effects of drugs or alcohol become a solution to our discomfort.

This release from problems is the main reason we addicts use drugs or drink a second or third time. It is just a matter of time before we become fully addicted and lose the ability to control our drug use. Drug addiction, then, results from excessive or continued use of physiologically habit-forming drugs in an attempt to resolve the discomfort or unhappiness and soon we need it just to feel normal, like you feel everyday.

We continued to use to escape from reality that we perceived was painful and we thought that we could escape our problems if we took drugs. In order to get this high our focus turned to how and where we can get our next shot. But we did not know that this was becoming an obsession to us. Soon we passed the line of simply using to get high to using to live. We had to use to keep our sick[4] away. All other aspects of our life suddenly disappeared. The only thing that mattered to us was the drug. We were slowly driving ourselves to insanity.

“Using drugs is first only ‘FUN’ then it grows to become ‘FUN with PROBLEMS” and ends up as ONLY PROBLEMS” (Yayasan Kita, Indonesian Recovery Center).

Our problems did not disappear when we used drugs. Instead our drug use added to our problems. To tell you the truth, drugs ceased to get us our initial high. No matter how much we used, we never felt like we did the very first time. It soon turned into our biggest source of problems. Our quest of the next perfect high never materialized as we continue on a downward spiral of drug use

[1] Salhi – Dhivehi word for being cool
[2] Gadda – tough in Dhivehi
[3] “G Mihaaru Libeytha” - Dhivehi for “can we get a gram now”
[4] sick – used to describe effects of withdrawal

Starting Our Life with Drugs

2008-11-01T16:48:00.000+05:00

There is a common misconception in the Maldives that drug addicts come from poor broken families, that we are uneducated or were ill-treated as children. We nod quickly when we are asked these questions but in truth that’s just us manipulating you. Even though our education was limited - we are master manipulators and it is easier for us to blame someone else for our mistakes. We have even manipulated the professionals into sending us back home from rehab so that we can use again.

We get sympathy from you when we tell you that our drug addiction is a result of our traumatic childhood. We pose as uneducated people but within this group of recovering addicts most of us had completed our secondary education. We come from middle class families and there are even some of us who come from rich families. We have held prestigious jobs, become addicted and lost it all. A few of us have had parents and uncles who were also addicted to drugs and almost all of us have parents who were respected in the society. But, not all of us were neglected as children. So the next time you ask a person on the street this question, think twice. You know better than to be fooled now.

“My father used to take me to school every morning. I just walk into school and as soon as he leaves I walk back out again and go to my boyfriend’s house. I stay with him and have a good time until I have to go back to school. My father will come pick me up again but he had no idea what was going on” (FS, female addict, 17 years old).

We weren’t born or brought up as addicts and nobody wanted to become an addict. We never said: “I want to be a drug addict and ruin my life and lives of my loved ones”. We did however want to be the centre of attention. Our insecurities play a big part in this. We feel unworthy and we would do anything to get noticed and be a part of the ‘cool’ groups in our schools and neighbourhoods. We didn’t know very much about society and we knew nothing about drugs. We were just doing what the others were doing. We grew up looking for acceptance from society and we wanted to fit in. We enjoyed that initial high so much that every shot we did after that was to experience that first high again.

We didn’t become addicts in a day. There are people who try drugs and stop because they don’t like the high, the kick or the feel of it. We were different; we loved how it made us feel. It gave us the power to perform well in everything. We didn’t see what the drug was doing to us; we only knew that we felt great using it. But soon enough, we couldn’t get that kick anymore. Our world revolved around our drugs and our next fix. We lived in fear and guilt because what we were doing was against the law. The initial euphoria and excitement had worn off a long time ago. Now we were dependent on the drugs. We needed it to get through everyday. It is the tolerance we had to the drugs that made us abusers and addicts.

Family Relationships#04

2008-11-01T11:43:00.000+05:00

We grew up the same way you did, the same as everyone. There wasn’t something in the way we grew up that made us addicts. We weren’t any different to non-addicts either. We were as normal as you were. We would have our problems with our parents. Our relationships with our fathers and mothers were the same as yours. In large families, there wouldn’t be a difference between the ways we were treated and our brothers and sisters were treated. The difference came later, when we started using drugs. It doesn’t mean that it was because of our childhood and though we prefer to blame someone else the truth is that relationship with our parents is not the reason for our addiction.

“I still remember my childhood days and how happy I was living with my parents. How they looked after me and how much they cared for me and how concerned they were about me. But after starting to use drugs I tried to avoid my parents because I didn’t want to upset them. I tried my level best to quit it but I couldn’t do it on my own. I was scared to share my addiction. After they found out about my addiction, they tried to help me in many ways. They even cared and monitored me twice as much as they had treated me as a child. Sometimes my dad was angry but that was because he was so concerned for me and that made him angry as well. Yet he never treated me badly. My mother and father sacrificed everything to help me overcome my addiction.” (MF, male recovering addict, 26 years old).

We are different with our own kids. We know what it was like for us so we try to make it different for them. We spend more time with our children and try and are there for them to talk to. We discuss topics that weren’t discussed with us. We have been through the worst of it and we try and stop our own children and the future generations from going through what we did. There has to be more information made available to everyone. Then, parents would know how to deal with the situation and the children would know what they are getting into. Instead of hiding these problems away, we should educate the young people and the future generations. Instead of just hearing of how cool the drugs make you feel, they also need to know the dangers of drug use and the problems that using drugs always causes. Sharing our experiences might prevent someone from going down the same path. We tell them the truth, the worst of our experiences. We tell them what addiction did to us and what it might do to them. There is never a happy ending to an addiction story and that is what the young people need to know. They hear the wrong things. They hear how good it feels, or how cool it makes you. That everyone would admire you and you can do whatever you want. Or they would hear message like “Say NO to Drugs! They are bad!” This wasn’t enough to stop us, and its not going to stop the others either. Drug use will continue into the next generation. It might not be heroin, it may be hash oil or ecstasy but there will be something. This is the time to put a stop to it all.

My eldest daughter is 18 years old. When I was in active addiction I don’t remember ever spending time with any of my children, hugging them or kissing them. I never even told them I loved them, but I love them but I never spent any time with them. When I got clean and sober, I began to see that my eldest daughter was on a dangerous path. One I had been down myself. My wife told me that she was skipping school and she had often been seen in hotel rooms with friends. One day, I called her and told her that I needed to talk to her. I told her my life story; I shared every second of my life with her. I didn’t ask her any questions or say anything about her. I told her about my experiences and what I had done. I also asked her for her forgiveness for my behaviour. I also told her that I can understand such behaviour from a daughter whose father never took care of her. I did not ask her any questions. I would not judge her but I told her that if she felt comfortable she could share with me. She trusted me and with lots of emotions she shared everything with me. She also told me that she is a drug addict. I was expecting that and I never blamed her or complained. But I explained the consequences of my drug use, in my experience. Since then, she and I are very close and shared everything. From that moment on, we became friends and she started getting sober. She is clean until today. It has been one year and she is now married.” (MR, male recovering addict, 38 years old).

Family Relationships#03

2008-11-01T11:37:00.000+05:00

Attention Given To You By	Mother		Father
Attention Given To You By	N	%	N	%
Very Limited	20	11	31	17.1
Average	45	24.9	36	19.9
Above Average	93	51.4	57	31.5
Don’t know	14	7.7	25	13.8
No Answer	9	5	32	17.1
Total	181	100	181	100

Most of the time, our father would be working. We would hardly see them. We are at school throughout the day and are asleep before they come home. Our mothers however are home with us and therefore we get more attention from them than we do from our fathers. They are the first to notice the changes in our behaviour and the first to see the problems start up. They are also the first to accept the lies because they want to believe us. They don’t want to accept the truth and we can’t face telling them the truth either. So we swear upon anything that we are not using drugs and they believe us. Maybe they are in denial too.

“My mother and I had a very good relationship, she loved me and protected me and looked after me. My mother was sick and she had been to India for medical treatment. When she got back, the first question she asked me was ‘son.. are you using drugs?’ The answer I gave her was a big black lie. I told her that I don’t use drugs. I looked her in the eye and I lied to her.” (MA, male recovering addict, 24 years old).

Can You Talk To Your	Mother		Father
Can You Talk To Your	N	%	N	%
Very Limited	36	19.9	46	25.4
Average	69	38.1	60	33.1
Above Average	57	31.5	25	13.8
Don’t know	8	4.4	17	9.4
No Answer	11	6.1	33	18.2
Total	181	100	181	100

We would talk to them about some things; relationships, problems that came up with friends or family. The addiction or drugs are things we never talk about.

“I talk to my family about things, my parents talk to me. But they never talk about drugs or addiction. They tell me that they don’t want to talk about it when I mention it. They would notice my behaviour changing when I started using heroin. But they don’t want to talk about drugs. I didn’t want to talk to them about it either actually. I thought I was absolutely fine, there was nothing wrong with me” (AA, male recovering addict, 27 years old).

Family Relationships#02

2008-11-01T11:34:00.000+05:00

Relationship with Mother	Number of Respondents	Percentage %
I don’t see my mother at all	3	1.7
Never see her, never talk to her	3	1.7
Often see her, cannot talk to her	6	3.3
Never talks, only shouts	2	1.1
We have a good relationship	138	76.2
She hits me when I misbehave	5	2.8
No Answer	24	13.2
Total	181	100

Our mothers protect us. They don’t understand addiction and wouldn’t want to believe that their children are using. So a lot of the time our addiction and our drug use is ignored. If there are lots of children in the family, our mothers are too busy to worry about each and every one of us. Most of the time, boys in the Maldives have a lot of freedom. They don’t have to stay at home all the time and our mothers don’t question us about where we go and what we are doing. We have good relationships because they trust us and we are left to do whatever we want. This is before they notice our behaviour changing. Once they realise something is different they start asking us if we are using drugs. We never tell them the truth, for as long as we can we continue to lie and hide it from them. Our mothers look after us and they provide for us. Our food is cooked and ready for us, our clothes are washed and ironed. But our drug addiction is ignored and never talked about. So we are able to maintain a good relationship with them because we use their love for us to our advantage. The good relationship with our parents lasts as long as our addiction remains hidden away from them and beyond because they are then probably too scared to annoy or upset us. We use it to our advantage.

“I was brought up very protected until I finished school and got a job. Of course I had my freedom until I got busted but I was scared to speak to my mother about my addiction or my personal matters. But there were times that we spoke heart to heart. But then I also used to omit the parts of addiction. As the eldest in my family I had some responsibilities over my younger sisters and because of that I had some privileges that they didn’t have. My parents trusted me more. The biggest reason I never could talk to my mother was because I knew she would not understand. She spoke about other people who used drugs and that was what she thought about it. Her point of view scared me. I didn’t want her thinking the same way about me. After I got busted She knew about my addiction but because I was her son she never said I was like the other junkies. I ended up hurting her. So even now I can’t talk about my addiction to my mother. But just like my father she is getting more aware with time.” (AGG, male recovering addict, 25 years old).

Family Relationships#01

2008-11-01T11:24:00.000+05:00

We have problems with our parents but no more so than anyone else. Our biggest problem is talking to our fathers and we could never reach them when we needed them. They give orders – we are bound to obey, they talk – we have to listen.

They are always right – no negotiation. We would prefer to say that most of our fathers are addicted to always being right. He became a formidable figure who was totally emotionally unavailable to us. Our relationship with our father was “to be seen but not to be heard, to listen but not to speak”.

Most of our fathers had an attitude of always being right, so you can understand why we have become so rebellious in nature. Especially in male addicts, this trait is clear. Nevertheless all in all we had difficulties in communicating with our parents. They may deny this but this is the truth. It is not their fault but we felt that we could not trust them with our feelings.

Relationship with Father	Number of Respondents	Percentage %
I don’t see my father at all	19	10.5
Never see him, never talk to him	9	5
Often see him, cannot talk to him	29	16
Never talks, only shouts	6	3.3
We have a good relationship	89	49.2
He hits me when I misbehave	7	3.9
No Answer	15	8.3
Total	181	100

We have good relationships in the sense that they provide for us. They don’t leave us on the streets. They are good to us and they give us what we need, food and shelter. We appreciate the things they do for us and if anyone asks we will tell them that they are good to us. But when it comes to the problems we have it’s a different story. This is usually ignored. So they will continue along as if nothing is happening. It is not discussed or talked about. If we hide it from them and lie about our addiction, they accept it quite easily. It is like they don’t want to face it either. There is a general lack of understanding and awareness. We don’t talk about our problems with our fathers and they seem to prefer it that way. It is not the same for everyone and there are those of us who don’t speak to their fathers either.

“My father is a strong assertive parent. I do have a fear of confrontation with my dad. He doesn’t often listen to me and it is difficult to communicate. But he is a good father and he does a lot of work for us. He loves me and cares for me but it is not easy to talk or tell him something so we often passed messages to him through my mother. During my addiction I couldn’t talk to him but I remember he did a lot of work and put in a lot of effort to help me. I used to write letters to him if I wanted to tell him anything in detail. I could say my relationship with my dad is not so good but he loves and cares for me.” (MR, male recovering addict, 38 years old).

“When I was 3 years old, my father divorced my mother. I didn’t have any relationship with my father. Sometimes I would see him on the road and he would ask me how I am but I don’t like to talk to my father. When I was in School, one day I met my father on the way home. I asked him if he could help me with a book I was reading. My father said yes and asked me to come to his house. When I went there he told me to come back tomorrow. When I went back the next day he told me the same thing. After that I told him it was ok, that I didn’t need to come by anymore. I stopped talking to him until I got married.” (AS, male recovering addict, 38 years old).

Family History/Background

2008-10-30T15:49:00.000+05:00

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

2008-10-27T15:46:00.000+05:00

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

2008-10-27T13:26:00.000+05:00

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.

[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

2008-10-22T19:44:00.000+05:00

“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

2008-10-22T18:55:00.000+05:00

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

2008-10-22T11:44:00.000+05:00

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

2008-10-21T19:28:00.000+05:00

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

2008-10-20T19:31:00.000+05:00

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.