Parents must learn to recognise the signs of drug abuse in their children instead of misinterpreting them as supernatural possession, says a rehabilitation expert
PUCHONG: Parents are to refrain from concluding that their children’s behavioural changes are due to mystical influences before exploring the possibility of substance abuse.
Syed Barkath Amin Syed Mohd Tarmidzi, the founder of Kolar Merah, a rehabilitation and community centre for former drug addicts and ex-convicts, said many parents misinterpret symptoms of drug addiction as hysteria, spirit possession or supernatural disturbances.
“In reality, it is the result of sleep deprivation and substance abuse. If a child suddenly doesn’t sleep for five days, talks to themselves, appears to perform silat-like movements or becomes overly aggressive, don’t immediately assume it’s possession.
“It could be the effects of not sleeping and drug overdose. Some of them even experience hallucinations,” he told theSun recently.
Syed Barkath Amin is a well-known TikToker who produces content related to the behaviour or mannerisms of illicit substance users.
He said there have been cases where parents would bring their children to alternative medical practitioners to treat unusual behaviour, unaware that they were actually under the influence of drugs.
“I’ve met parents who took their children everywhere for treatment.
“It was only after their children were arrested and a urine test revealed they were positive for methamphetamine that the parents realised they are drug addicts,” he said.
He added that a lack of awareness has caused many parents to miss the early warning signs of addiction.
Syed Barkath Amin said symptoms include drastic changes in sleep patterns, loss of appetite, extreme paranoia and irrational fear of the police or people around them.
“When drug users reach the fourth or fifth day without sleep, they would start hallucinating. When they leave the house, they would feel like someone is trying to arrest them. Even when someone looks at them, they think that person has bad intentions. That’s a sign their mental state is no longer stable.”
Syed Barkath Amin said early intervention is crucial to prevent addiction from worsening.
He noted that parents can seek help from the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) voluntarily before their child is arrested.
“If you surrender voluntarily and the child agrees, there’s no punishment. They will receive counselling and monitoring.”
The Sun Malaysia
