SINGAPORE – As former engineering manager Roland (not his real name) stood in a court dock in 2018, he wondered: “How did I get myself into this situation?”
On the surface, his life looked picture-perfect: he had a master’s degree from a local university, a successful career with a five-figure salary, and a loving wife and son.
Yet, in his 40s, Roland was sent to a drug rehabilitation centre (DRC) and later, to prison, because of a methamphetamine addiction.
Now 53, Roland was candid and articulate in a July interview with The Straits Times at We Care Community Services, where he works as a counsellor.
“I don’t think there’s a certain (profile of a) person with addiction. We may know about (addiction), but knowing how to deal with it is another thing,” he mused.
Stories like his are more common in Singapore today than one might expect. DRC inmates with tertiary education and above have been growing in number over the years, according to official statistics.
There were 293 inmates with qualifications ranging from polytechnic diplomas to doctorates in 2025, compared with 204 in 2021, based on Singapore Prison Service statistics.
Meth did not seem like a problem when Roland first tried it at a party in 2014. It felt like a quick solution to pent-up stress.
After moving from Malaysia to Singapore for his studies when he was seven, he grew up under pressure to work hard and prove himself.
He earned a master’s in engineering and climbed the corporate ladder swiftly. He became a manager at a semiconductor plant and was in charge of more than 200 staff.
But the relentless pressure became unbearable, said Roland, who is now a Singaporean. He recalled how he cut back on sleep and meals just to get work done.
The white crystals of meth promised relief – especially when his friends, too, were taking the drug.
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