{
  "id": 16398060,
  "title": "A taxi driver's son growing up among addicts, he's now a doctor changing lives",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/a-taxi-drivers-son-growing-up-among-addicts-hes-now-a-doctor-changing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T00:01:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2026/10/1562899/taxi-drivers-son-growing-among-addicts-hes-now-doctor"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Rashidi Mohamed Pakri Mohamed, a doctor specializing in addiction and substance use, grew up in a squatter area of Kuala Lumpur where gangsterism and drug activities were prevalent. As the eldest of four siblings, he witnessed drug pushers and people struggling with addiction firsthand. Despite these challenging surroundings, his family placed a high value on education, and Dr Rashidi worked to pay for his tuition and support his aunt's catering business. His early experiences with theft by drug addicts and a broken-in home incident by a drug dealer exposed him to the far-reaching impact of drug use in his community. These early encounters with drug-related issues sparked his interest in understanding the complexities of addiction, leading him to pursue a career as a family medicine specialist and lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Dr Rashidi emphasizes that addiction is a result of circumstances, not a personal choice, and advocates for a non-judgmental approach to treatment that focuses on reducing harm and supporting individuals to make positive changes.",
  "summary": "“MY role model? Me, myself.” Dr Rashidi Mohamed Pakri Mohamed declares without missing a beat.",
  "key_points": [
    "Dr Rashidi Mohamed Pakri Mohamed grew up in a Kuala Lumpur squatter area with drug activities.",
    "Witnessed drug pushers and addiction firsthand, leading to a career in addiction medicine.",
    "Advocates non-judgmental harm reduction approach to treat addiction."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Transforming personal childhood trauma into professional expertise allows this specialist to advocate for a compassionate, non-judgmental approach to treating addiction within vulnerable communities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}