He was an engineering manager with a Master’s degree. Then meth took over
Faced with immense work stress, he saw drugs as a solution instead of a problem.
Former engineering manager Roland, whose real name has been withheld, found himself in a spiral of methamphetamine addiction in his forties. Despite his picture-perfect life with a Master's degree, a successful career, and a supportive family, he was eventually sent to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) and prison due to his addiction.
Roland's addiction began innocently with meth at a party in 2014, but it quickly escalated as he struggled with the relentless pressure of work and his upbringing. His addiction worsened after he quit his job in 2015, and he became increasingly secretive about his drug use. Roland's wife noticed changes in him but attributed it to job stress.
When he recognized the severity of his addiction, he surrendered to the police in 2017, and was subsequently sent to DRC for rehabilitation. Roland's story is not unique, as the number of DRC inmates with tertiary education or higher qualifications has been growing in recent years. After his release, Roland struggled to maintain recovery, and after a relapse, he was sentenced to jail again in 2018.
He eventually joined We Care's counselling programs and has been clean since 2019. Roland now works as a counselor at We Care, helping others overcome drug addiction, emphasizing the importance of support systems and critical thinking during recovery.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
