The Dark Reality of Drug Rehabilitation in Singapore: A Tale of Fear, Control, and Hope

Drug users in Singapore face long-term incarceration in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre, where they undergo compulsory rehabilitation under strict surveillance, while potentially dangerous trafficking charges loom over some. A narrative of fear and resilience unfolds as individuals navigate the severe legal landscape surrounding narcotics.

Kim* is a young professional whose journey with cannabis began amid family turmoil, but as her life improved, her drug habit persisted. With a local supplier, Kim found herself supplying cannabis to friends, believing she was simply helping them purchase something familiar. “That’s what I did,” she recounts, emphasizing the absence of a profit motive. However, Singapore's stringent drug laws swiftly shattered her reality.

In the eyes of the law, selling or distributing narcotics qualifies as drug trafficking, and Kim was thrust into a nightmare when authorities caught one of her friends. After the Central Narcotics Bureau invaded her privacy by examining her phone records, she too faced trafficking charges. “I was wracked with horror,” Kim shares, grappling with overwhelming fear about her uncertain future.

In stark contrast to many regions worldwide—such as over 24 states in the US where cannabis has been legalized—Singapore maintains harsh penalties. Possession of as little as 15 grams of cannabis raises the presumption of trafficking, and punitive measures become dire with heavier amounts, escalating to mandatory death sentences.

While Kim's situation doesn't involve execution, she anticipates potential imprisonment ranging from five to 20 years. As Kim awaits her fate, her friends, classified as simple drug users, have received a different tier of punishment: six months at the state-run Drug Rehabilitation Centre, where they are treated as low-risk, non-trafficking offenders.

Operated by the Singapore Prison Service, the Drug Rehabilitation Centre resembles incarceration rather than rehabilitation. The facility is fortified with barbed wire, surveillance cameras, and guards patrolling regularly. Monthly reports indicate over 3,900 inmates, with approximately 1 in 8 being women.

Each cell accommodates seven or eight men, outfitted with minimal amenities—a rush mat instead of a bed, and a communal bathing space. Supt Ravin Singh comments on the facility's design: “While it is rehabilitation, it’s still a very deterrent regime,” indicating that comfort is not a priority.

Participants engage in psychology-based education for several hours daily, aimed at inspiring inmates to abandon drug use and counter negative thought patterns. Jon*, a young inmate grappling with methamphetamine use, expresses both excitement and anxiety about his impending release. “It’s exciting leaving... But I’m also nervous,” he admits, reflecting on potential temptations that await.

As treatment methods evolve, the Singaporean government continues to wrestle with societal views on drug use. Rehabilitation programs have advanced, yet criticisms persist regarding the conditions within the Drug Rehabilitation Centre, with advocates accusing it of perpetuating humiliation while ignoring the deeper issues of drug dependence.

Post-release management includes strict supervision, with innovative urine analysis technology employed to ensure accountability. Some argue that despite the advancements, the system remains unforgiving, especially for traffickers like Kim, whose life hangs in the balance, lost in a legal struggle.

“I took some time to mourn almost, for the period of my life I would lose,” Kim reflects, revealing the emotional toll of potential incarceration. As the looming court decision approaches, she prepares for an outcome that many others share; nearly 50% of Singapore’s imprisoned population is currently serving sentences for drug offences, underscoring the severe grip of law on lives entangled in addiction.

*All names in the article have been changed for anonymity. If you, or anyone you know, is affected by addiction, support resources are available at the BBC Action Line.