Singapore's Harsh Drug Policies: A Look Inside the Drug Rehabilitation Centre**

The story reveals the intense repercussions of drug laws in Singapore, focusing on the experiences of Kim, a young professional now facing drug trafficking charges, and the grueling environment of the state-run Drug Rehabilitation Centre.**

A toke on a joint - then six months of forced rehab in a concrete cell

Kim* is a young professional who turned to cannabis during a turbulent family life. Despite family issues improving, her drug use persisted, leading her to cultivate a social circle of fellow users. When her friends asked her to source cannabis for them, she felt it was a harmless act of support.

“I never marked up the price in any way, because this was friendship,” Kim explains. This camaraderie, however, would soon lead her into Singapore's draconian legal system. The island nation is notorious for its harsh narcotics laws, where anyone involved in drug possession or distribution faces severe penalties.

When one of Kim's friends was apprehended by the Central Narcotics Bureau, she was implicated as the supplier when authorities searched her phone records. Charged with drug trafficking, Kim experienced profound dread. “To have charges of trafficking levelled at me? I felt complete and utter fear of what was going to pan out for me,” she recounts.

While many places around the globe are easing cannabis regulations, Singapore's laws remain extremely rigid. Possession of just 15 grams of cannabis labels one as a trafficker, and 500 grams or more can lead to a mandatory death sentence.

Currently, Kim is not facing capital punishment, but a lengthy prison sentence looms large. “The minimum sentence would be five years,” she states, noting the possibility of a 20-year sentence. While Kim awaits her fate, her friends received different treatment, labeled merely as drug consumers rather than traffickers. They were directed to the state-run Drug Rehabilitation Centre for six months.

In Singapore, upon being caught with narcotics, users are assessed and classified into low, medium, or high-risk categories regarding reoffending. Those assessed as medium or high risk, regardless of their drug use history, are subjected to compulsory rehabilitation. Notably, there are no private rehabilitation facilities; the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) operates as a highly monitored institution.

The DRC, which is closely overseen by Singapore’s Prison Service, operates similarly to a prison facility, with controlled access, constant surveillance, and minimal comforts. In December 2023, approximately 1 in 8 of the nearly 4,000 inmates were women. The male population resides in large dormitory-like cells, sleeping on thin mats on a concrete floor without personal beds or adequate privacy.

“This is still a very deterrent regime,” states Superintendent Ravin Singh. “We don’t want to make your stay too comfortable.” Inmates spend hours engaged in psychological courses aimed at discouraging drug use and fostering healthy life choices.

Jon*, a young inmate nearing the end of his rehabilitation, reflects on his experience, acknowledging the challenges of returning to a world filled with temptation. “It’s exciting leaving... But I know it won't be easy,” he admits.

Though the regime has shifted towards recognizing treatment over punishment for drug users, serious criticisms remain. Some argue the approach is still more punitive than rehabilitative, asserting that it emphasizes shame rather than addressing the root causes of addiction.

The government, however, argues that progress has been made. “If they’re not a threat to society, we don’t need to treat them as criminals,” states Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam. Nevertheless, harsh policies persist, including mandatory reporting of drug disclosures by medical professionals to the authorities.

During surveillance, individuals, once tagged, are subjected to regular drug tests within advanced Urine Supervision Cubicles. This technology ensures the monitoring of former inmates, adding pressure to stay clean.

As Kim enters a new phase of uncertainty, she grapples with the potential loss of her freedom. “I’ve accepted prison on a deeper level,” she observes, anticipating life under the harsh realities of Singapore’s drug enforcement system. If convicted, she won't be alone; drug offenses account for nearly half the nation’s prison population.

(*Names changed for anonymity.)