Learning to stand tall

A former drug addict has set up a rehabilitation centre in Yasothon province to help youngsters kick the dangerous habit and restore their self-esteem

Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan
Pictures by Somkid Chaijitvanit

Young heroin addicts like Pong (not his real name) are often seen as simply disappointments to their parents, truants from school and outcasts from the rest of society.

But for Suthasinee Klui-ngern, Pong is just someone who happened to fall. Given a chance and support he can surely stand up proud once again.

"It does more harm than good to condemn drug addicts and treat them like they are social garbage," commented Suthasinee, a social worker who founded a shelter and rehabilitation centre for teenage drug addicts in Yasothon province. "That only deepens the problem and at the end of the day, it affects society as a whole."

Learning of the centre from friends, Pong telephoned Suthasinee six months ago telling her he wanted to fight his addiction. She gave him detailed advice. Sensing her understanding, he expressed his desire to join her rehabilitation programme. Suthasinee, a social worker in her 40s, was more than happy to oblige.

With free-of-charge treatment and care Pong has now become much stronger both physically and mentally.

"I've realised heroin is no solution to my worries and problems," Pong said firmly. "It ruined my life. I'll never use it again." Although Pong, 18, still needs some more time to cope with personal matters, he has found his niche: he wants to be a social worker. "He's so determined in improving himself and helping others. As a senior here, he always helps the centre's newcomers get through the hard times during withdrawal. I believe he'll reach his goal," said Suthasinee who is affectionately called Pi Tiew by Pong and others at the centre.

Like Pong, several other boys and girls have passed through the rehabilitation programme, successfully kicked their drug habit and found a new life.

Since its establishment in 1992 the shelter, officially named the "Children and Youth for Development," has helped over 500 teenagers from provinces nationwide, not just the Northeast.

Unlike withdrawal programmes in many other hospitals and shelters, no detoxification medicines are used at the centre, not even the popular substitute drug, Methadone.

"All of them have to go cold turkey," said Suthasinee.

Once an addict is admitted to the shelter, whether willingly or not, he will be asked to stop taking drugs immediately. As a result, he must suffer from withdrawal symptoms for three or four days. This includes stomach cramps, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, tension and agitation.

"We will take a close look at these tormented newcomers. Instead of medicines, we use a 'peer to peer' method to help them pass through this hardest time," she explained.

Take Kaew (not her real name). On the first day her mother sent her to the centre, she was drunk and hallucinating because of LSD.

When the young woman calmed down, a few senior females constantly kept her company, but they did not bombard her with questions about her bitter past or drug-taking behaviour.

"They just made me feel safe. They massaged me and helped talk a way out for me," reminisced Kaew, 20, a Buri Ram native. Most of the addicts will get better on the fourth day as the withdrawal symptoms decrease.

"Before, I was so upset with my problems that I rarely talked or laughed," recalled Kaew, adding that she used drugs because she wanted to forget the biting reality of an abusive boyfriend and demanding parents.

"Now I feel completely different from the confused girl I was two months ago. I'm more outgoing and talkative. I'm happy to stay with all my friends here," smiled the young woman.

Those who go cold turkey, Suthasinee believes, are less likely to fall back into drugs.

"It is because they quit by their own determination, perseverance and restraint. They make it because they're emotionally strong," she explained.

Pong, for instance, had undergone several kinds of detoxification medicine schemes which failed every time.

"One cannot succeed if the mind is weak," he said.

"I don't mean this [cold turkey] way is the best for everyone," the social worker added. "It's most suited for those willing to change their life, to become a new person."

After the withdrawal symptoms subside, the following days are filled with various activities to distract the teenagers from falling back into old habits. They can choose what they want to do, ranging from gardening and farming to sports, music and the arts.

"Next month we will begin additional activities like Herb Corner, where they can learn about various local herbs and their benefits," said Suthasinee. "Also, in our new Jigsaw Corner, those interested not only play with jigsaw puzzles but also learn how to make them. This, we hope, can earn them extra income after they leave the shelter."

Each youngster has a pretty large amount of freedom in the centre's two-rai area.

They sleep in simple, thatched-roofed huts scattered at the back of the premises. Though the boys and girls live separately, they do their rehabilitation activities together.

"There is no discrimination," emphasised the social worker. "No matter whether they are rich or poor, they live here like equals."

Take Tor (not his real name), a 16-year-old boy from a well-to-do family in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

"I have to do everything myself. I do my own washing, cooking and cleaning. I never did this when I was at home. Anyway, I've found these household chores a kind of relaxation, even therapeutic" he said, smiling.

Apart from their daily routines, each youngster's individual programme remains flexible.

"I don't want to force them to do this or that. Wasn't it pressure from society or high expectations that turned many of these kids to drugs?" she said.

Once a problem child from a broken marriage, Suthasinee revealed she knows each child's sad experiences all too well. When she was in her teens, she became addicted to heroin because she found life meaningless and society too demanding.

But it was her mother's love and devotion that restored her soul.

"My mom never spoke one abusive word when she knew I'd fallen into drugs. She still gave me loving care. Her love made me determined I would never let her down again," she reminisced, adding that after a few days of suffering, she completely triumphed over her addiction.

Beyond physical attention, her mother's tenderness and understanding brought back Suthasinee's sense of self-worth and self-respect, which, she realised in later years made her able to stand up and resume a normal life.

Therefore, one of the first things Suthasinee does when an addict recovers from withdrawal symptoms is to have a heart-to-heart talk which revitalises self-esteem.

"I need to point out that he's a worthy person who has the love of his parents and can do good things for society if he really wants to," she explained.

But just talk is not enough, said the social worker, action is also needed. Community service is part of the centre's programmes to give the teenagers a clearer picture of who they are and what they can do for others.

"We've initiated an education campaign on drugs and other child and youth-related problems at schools in Yasothon's Muang district. Under guidance from the shelter's few social workers, our young members are important in making this campaign possible," she said.

Just few kilometres outside the shelter, Suthasinee said, there is pervasive drug dealing and trafficking. Drugs are everywhere ... in schools, villages, places of entertainment, to name but a few.

"The drug problems will intensify in northeastern provinces as more and more laid-off blue-collar workers return home from the big cities," she predicted. "To make matters worse, there'll be more Aids, child abuse, sexual assaults and so on, along with the problems of drug abuse."

It is hoped, therefore, that the centre's educational campaign will counter these social problems to some extent. Apart from the schools, it also goes to police stations, giving knowledge to prisoners.

"I'm not sure whether the inmates will follow our advice. But this is a kind of encouragement. We just want to let them know we're their friends," said Kaew, an ex-LSD addict.

Educating others about the harm of drugs has also strengthened the resolve of the former addicts running the campaign. They are now even more determined never to go back to their old habits.

"Also, they are trying hard to be good examples for other youngsters," said Suthasinee.

Geng (not his real name), for example, was addicted to amphetamines for four years. Today he has quit and enjoys teaching primary school students about the perils of drugs.

"I feel good when these kids pay me respect with a wai. It means I'm not social garbage anymore. In return, I need to behave properly," he said.

A few nights ago, Geng revealed he missed the amphetamines.

"My heart pounded and my body shook. But I've overcome it," he said, smiling with pride.

Like Geng and many of his peers in the programme who need some time before they can return safe and sound to society, the shelter itself is in a transition period.

"There are still several shortcomings in our rehabilitation process and in the organisation's management that we want to correct," said Suthasinee modestly.

However, the centre's biggest obstacles remain external.

These include conflicts with corrupt authorities and influential drug dealers.

As the centre is only a small non-governmental project run by Suthasinee and three other social workers, it runs the risk of being accused as simply being a ghetto for drug abuse.

"After the last clash with some government officials a month and a half ago we decided to stop the shelter's operation. We had to send the remaining 20 teenagers home," she said, disappointment clear in her voice.

Still, the shelter continues its education campaign in schools and police stations. Thankfully, the shelter will open again at the beginning of next month and the children brought back.

The shelter also often experiences financial problems as it is not registered as a foundation or official organisation and is not well-known by the general public.

With more money, the shelter could hire more social workers as well as trained psychologists to give the troubled youngsters counselling, she said.

Although money is essential, Suthasinee still believes what makes drug rehabilitation work is "what flows from our hearts" - namely empathy, determination and commitment.

"Kids can kick the dangerous habit if they regain their self-esteem and meaning in life. All they want is understanding and a chance." Note : Anyone wishing to support the Children and Youth for Development Centre and its rehabilitation programme can contact Suthasinee Klui-ngern on (045) 722-240-1 or by pager (152) 370-017. Alternatively, write to: 113 Moo 12, Baan Prachasan, Tambon Tardthong, Muang District, Yasothon 35000. Donations can be deposited in the Chook Chern: Kroang Karn Pueah Dek Lae Yoawachon (Emergency: Children and Youth for Development Programme) bank account, number 166-1-23679-0 at the Bank of Ayudhya's Yasothon branch. "We Care" is a weekly series honouring people who believe in giving. You can show you care by supporting the projects featured here each week. You can also let us know about people who unselfishly help others so we can honour them in these pages. Fax "We Care" on 240-3666 or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212.