Teen caught dabbling in drugs, mum crushed
Teen dabbled in drugs at 17, was caught by CNB
He was 17, a student and all his allowance was spent on heroin.
A friend had introduced him to the drug in 2013.
Now 19, the barista who wanted to be known only as YC, said he tried drugs because he was "curious"
His friends were also getting high on drugs.
But he soon got hooked.
For the next six months, he took heroin every three to four days, spending his pocket money on a high instead of food.
He suffered from withdrawal symptoms during the fasting period because he was not given any allowance and could no longer afford his drug habit.
He then met a family friend and confided in him that he needed a fix.
"He scolded me when he found out I was on heroin," said YC.
"He said, why take heroin? Try ice. It's better than heroin, it's not addictive."
From taking heroin twice a week, he turned to ice every day in his room, hiding his habit from his parents.
The law caught up with him in January 2014, when his mother received a call from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) informing her that they were looking for him.
His mother accompanied him to CNB and she kept asking him on the way there if he took drugs.
"I kept denying that I was on drugs, but that was because I was still high at that time, after taking ice the night before," he said.
"After turning myself in and admitting to the officers that I was on drugs, they told me to tell my mother myself."
It was at that point he broke his mother's heart.
"'I'm taking drugs ma', that's what I said to her. She cried and asked me multiple times why, but I couldn't answer," he said.
He was then led away.
THEY FORGAVE HIM
"They said they forgave me and blamed themselves, saying they failed as parents. I told them through sobs that it wasn't their fault and they said they'll pray for the best."
YC's mother, 43, a housekeeping executive, said life has been very different for the family since that dark episode.
She said: "It was very hard on me at first because I could not accept that my son took drugs."
She has now taken it upon herself to give him guidance and moral support, encouraging him to never give up and to leave his past behind.
YC has moved on with his life after spending time in rehabilitation. He has a new girlfriend and has also cut links to his druggie friends.
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