From Club Raids to Clear Choices: A DJ's Second Act
January – March 2026Recovery Story: Charles
"At everyone’s rock bottom, they become a shadow of their former selves. Some have lost friends, some have lost jobs, but most have lost themselves. And it’s only through dedicated effort that they start to rediscover who they truly are."
When I first met Charles, it was in a small room inside Selarang Prison Complex, during a Project SAFE* briefing. From the little interaction we had, he seemed reserved. Especially so, as he was seated amongst a rowdy group.
It was truly representative of how things in DRC (Drug Rehabilitation Centre) are – some are more reserved, uncertain about their environment or what the future holds, while others are more comfortable, having been through the process multiple times before.
The Charles that was sitting across me as we sat down for this interview, however, was drastically different. Dressed sharply, he spoke with gusto completely unrecognisable from the person I had seen months ago in Selarang.
Since joining WE CARE more than a year ago, his personality has really shone through. You could tie it to the level of comfort he feels in WE CARE, but I think the bigger reason is the work he’s done for his recovery.
At everyone’s rock bottom, they become a shadow of their former selves. Some have lost friends, some have lost jobs, but most have lost themselves. And it’s only through dedicated effort that they start to rediscover who they truly are.
How Spinning Turntables Turned the Tables
Charles became a DJ at the age of 20, and travelled around the world to play in different clubs. He spent a fair bit of time based in London, but tells me he also played in Cairo, Istanbul, Dubai and Portugal – a great testament to his abilities as a DJ.
And it was in those clubs, that he was first introduced to Ecstasy.
What started as a social drug very quickly turned into his first DRC sentence when a club he was playing in got raided by CNB (Central Narcotics Bureau). He tells me about how shocking the whole experience was: “My first DRC sentence was my first-ever incarceration too (where we’re labelled pure first-timers), and it was an experience I don’t think I am ever going to forget.”
Out of the Pan into the Fire
After being released, he moved to New Zealand with his then-partner for 9 years. Seeing it as a fresh start, he started a new profession as a makeup artist. He made the decision to switch careers away from nightlife because that’s how he got started with drugs –unfortunately, he soon found that the fashion industry was no different.
He tried meth for the first time, and he says it changed his life, initially for the better, but eventually for the worst.
A close call with a sniffer dog at a Mardi Gras music festival around that period could have served as a warning for the damage meth could do but was largely ignored. A slap on the wrist rarely serves any good, he says.
Returning to Singapore almost a decade after being released from DRC, Charles was resolute never to be incarcerated again. He managed to stay sober for the next 13 years, but deep down always had a desire to relive the experiences he had in New Zealand.
Finally, his determination broke, and he returned to using meth.
One Last Sentence
In certain recovery support groups, it’s mentioned that drug addiction only ends in one of three ways: Jails, Institutions or Death. In less than 2 years – during which his meth use increased mainly in a bid to cope with deaths of a few loved ones – Charles found himself in DRC again.
What came with that latest sentence is the realisation that he cannot afford to be incarcerated again. He doesn’t want to put his mind nor his body through the concrete floors and strict regimentation that DRC provides, again. That alone shapes his choices, which are reinforced by friends who check in, keep him safe, and keep him honest.
At this point, he had lost so many important people and relationships – but he doesn't dwell on the grief like it's the whole story. Instead, he talks about what's keeping him steady.
What holds now is a mix of willpower and structure. People often say willpower isn’t enough, but for Charles it’s willpower sharpened by counselling with his counsellor Yvonne that has raised his tolerance for bad days and made his emotional foundation rock solid.
He loves his freedom and doesn't want to lose it. He remembers feeling jealous when friends went overseas, but now he’s free to travel whenever. It's easy to forget the longing for freedom while you're on tagging or incarcerated, but in those moments, they served as big motivators.
Malacca, Vietnam, JB – being able to travel freely to these places is something he will never take for granted. He even plans to go to India, once his health stabilises.
He's rediscovered his faith too. It got him through one of the scariest and lowest periods of his life, and he has no plans of ever leaving his Higher Power's side anymore.
He can think clearer now and make better decisions – it's an ability he loves and doesn't want to lose. He's also calmer, even when customers are nasty at work. Being clean enables him to work his job effectively, he says.
His love for DJ-ing hasn't left him either, and he hopes to return to playing on a part-time basis.
The difference is, this time, it won't be the life he escapes into – just one he visits on his own terms.
By Jat and Charles
Charles’ advice for anyone struggling with drugs: “Using drugs is not the way out. Living life is one of the most beautiful aspirations. Life is too short, so make wise decisions and live life to the fullest.”
*Project SAFE (Support for Recovery Addicts and their Families through Empowerment) is a programme WE CARE runs in partnership with Singapore Prison Service and DRC where prior to release, supervisees are attached to WE CARE to work on their recovery.
