Illustrations for CNB (Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore) - Essay 16

Gwyneth Lee Yi Xin
Nan Chiau Primary School, 5A

From the CNB website, there were 2,166 drug abusers in 2007 as compared to 1,218 in 2006. Repeat drug abusers made up 77% of the total number of abusers. The composition of the age groups was as follows: 39% were forty and above, 33% were thirty to thirty-nine, 25% were twenty to twenty-nine and 3% were under twenty.

From the age groups of thirty to forty and above, which make up 72%, I feel that most of them already have families with young children. They are the faceless victims when their fathers or mothers are punished by the law for their morbid drub abusing.

In my school library, I came across the book Broken Mirror. This book is based on true stories from ex-drug abusers. These drug abusers mostly had parents or friends who gambled or abused drugs. Others relate the plight of the drug abusers’ children. After I had read this book, what touched my heart was that the drug abusers were just children when they came across this habit. Some were just infants! I was deeply sorry for them as I read through their encounters. Some stories were so touching I could not refrain from shedding a tear or two.

I sympathise and feel for those innocent children of drug abusers.



It would be difficult for children to understand why their parents need to go to jail. Why they are not able to see their parents for a long period of time, why they are put in a foster home, and how they will be looked upon by society for having parents who are drug abusers. Needless to say, they lack self-confidence and feel disadvantaged. They come from a broken family and most probably will not have enough financial means to cover their daily needs. They will be deprived of many opportunities compared to more fortunate children.

I hope that this society will not look down on them, but instead will give them a helping hand. It is unfair to them if they are judged by their backgrounds and where they come from. We should also not discriminate against them, but instead give them the opportunity to lead a normal and happy life.



It does not matter who their parents are, but rather what they grow up to be.

Drugs not only destroy a person’s life, they also hurt the people around him or her. I strongly believe that the price for taking drugs is too high to pay, as many innocent children are deprived of their happy childhood because of drugs.