KOTA BARU: Children as young as 12 are getting addicted to Yaba pills, also known as pil kuda, influenced by peers and lured by dealers who sell drugs to school students.
Former addicts undergoing rehabilitation at the Kota Baru Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) said school students are among the most vulnerable targets, Kosmo reported.
One of them, Ariq, 21, said he first tried the pills at 12 after being influenced by friends.
“I often saw my friends taking Yaba pills while we were hanging out or before playing football.
“I tried it and got addicted.
“It was easy to get because dealers were always nearby,” he said.
He said his school pocket money was all spent on buying two Yaba pills for RM10.
He admitted he pawned his mother’s bracelet worth thousands just to buy 10 Yaba pills for RM50.
“I reached the point where I was in the deepest stage of addiction.
“Without money, I had no way of controlling my urge to consume the pills,” he said.
“Honestly, individuals addicted to Yaba pills cannot think rationally, especially in desperate situations.
“What broke me the most was when my mother passed away last year due to illness.
“I never got the chance to apologise before she left.
“That guilt is also what pushed me to seek treatment here,” he added.
Another client, Alim, 15, shared that he began experimenting with Yaba pills at just 12 after being influenced by peers in his village, most of whom were much older.
Having dropped out of school, Alim now works as a village labourer and climbs coconut trees to earn money for his younger siblings while also feeding his addiction.
He said he had been a heavy Yaba addict for several months, consuming two pills daily.
When under the influence of Yaba pills, he felt more energetic to work.
By working as a village labourer and climbing coconut trees, Alim earns around RM60 a day.
He spends RM10 to buy two pills and gives the rest to his siblings.
His parents were imprisoned for drug-related offences years ago, so he and his siblings were raised by relatives.
He was thankful to be admitted to Puspen before his addiction worsened.
Alim said he had already learned many lessons there, especially about religion, even though he had only been in the centre for a month.
Kw: Drugs, Yaba pills, Horse pills, School students, Puspen, Kota Baru, Teenage, pil kuda, Malaysia, Kelantan
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