I think...

... my life changed somewhat today.

I went to an NSEP site in KL for my data collection, and met up with a number of injecting drug users and some of the outreach workers.

Amongst others, I got to witness first hand of how syringes were given and exchanged for used ones, I got to interview the IDUs and social workers, and was given the opportunity to tour the place.

One of the most surprising facts of the day was realising that the outreach workers were also drug addicts once upon a time ago, and they are now reaching out to others who are like their former self. I always thought social workers who did these kind of work, are those who have gone through some sort of training... but now it makes a whole lot of sense. The outreach workers who are truly suited for the task of reaching out and introducing IDUs into the shelter are actually former addicts who know what it's like to be alone, homeless, an outcast pariah, depressed, hungry, and afraid.

Almost everyone at the NSEP site have had some sort of violent history, so, the shelter is a very much welcomed place of solitude and respite. The IDUs I've interviewed told me they're very happy with the place; They get free and decent meals, a peaceful spot to rest and sleep, access to toiletry needs, and they get to form social bonds. Yeah, stuff that most of us take granted of often. There's also a small clinic to address their medical needs.

3 hours later as I was making my way back to campus, I was lost in thought. IDUs are often seen as scary people who are prone to committing violence, stigmatised like lepers in the biblical times, and they all suffer a lot of hardships that most of us could never really imagine or experience. Most of them are likely to stay single for the rest of their lives as most women wouldn't find their backgrounds appealing, they would have a very dimmed hope of climbing the social ladder, and they'll have to live with the 'addict' label for the rest of their lives. Because society treats them as shit, they have no other choice but to live as one, and the perpetuating cycle of self-fulfilling prophecy goes on and on and on ensuring that they remain the way they are - or deteriorate further...

But it's good to know that at the very least, places like the NSEP site reminds them that they're not alone and that they're are loved.