[Disease Code: Drug Addiction] ① "I Thought I Could Quit Anytime"… Recovery Stories of Four Young Adults 'In Healing'

Recovery Youths Met at Darc in Gyeonggi-do
Devoted to 'Dan-yak' Dreaming of an Ordinary Life
"Hard to Quit After Addiction... Shouldn't Even Start"

On the afternoon of the 27th of last month, we met four young men in their twenties who are striving to quit drugs at 'Gyeonggi-do DARC (DARC)', a group home-style rehabilitation center for drug addiction located in Yangju-si, Gyeonggi Province. Some encountered drugs out of curiosity, some voluntarily, and others without even knowing they were drugs. A single use turned into "just one more time," and eventually, they became intoxicated with drugs every day. None of them initially expected to be under the influence of drugs daily. Those whose dreams and goals in life were consumed by drugs are now fully committed to rehabilitation here, working hard to find a new future.

Drugs encountered for various reasons, "I thought I could quit anytime..."

Min Jaewon (21) has been regaining his health by living a regular life after entering Darc in Gyeonggi./Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

When asked what he would say to his 19-year-old self who first encountered drugs, Min Jaewon (21, male) hesitated for a long time before speaking. After a long silence, he said, "I don't think any words would matter because I wasn't at an age where I had my own standards or control," but added, "I would tell myself that I would have to live a painful life ahead, so much so that it would have been better to die back then."

Min first encountered methamphetamine from his ex-girlfriend, who had already experienced drugs before taking the college entrance exam in his senior year of high school. His reason for using drugs was less about curiosity and more about wondering, "What is this that ruined my girlfriend?" He said, "At that time, I had an unfounded confidence that I could quit drugs whenever I wanted." However, once he started, the drug use continued. There were many days when he was intoxicated and did not come home, and his parents frequently called looking for him. He told friends he met through drugs that he wanted to quit, but he couldn't act on it. He tried to quit but found himself repeatedly using drugs, which made him consider "ending his life."

Joo Hyunseong (25, male, pseudonym) first encountered drugs in 2015 while studying in the United States. He received marijuana from a Korean senior at a birthday party. Starting with marijuana, his drug use expanded to ecstasy and methamphetamine. Even when he returned to Korea in 2019, he couldn't quit. As it became harder to obtain drugs than in the U.S., he went out to Itaewon to buy them himself. When that became difficult, he purchased drugs through online messengers. At that time, Joo spent all his monthly allowance on drugs. Even after being caught by the police for drug use in 2020, quitting was difficult. Joo said, "During the period I was using drugs, I stayed in my room doing nothing but drugs."

Lee Sujeong (28, female) lost people around her who used drugs together. Her boyfriend she met in the U.S. at age fifteen and another boyfriend she met as an adult both sold drugs. Those who used drugs with Lee are no longer in this world. Lee said, "Because I used a lot of drugs, some people made extreme choices due to mental health issues." Although not currently, Lee also suffered from auditory hallucinations at one point.

Nam Myung-woo (27) has been undergoing drug abstinence for eight months since entering Darc in Gyeonggi last February. Although the initial adjustment to the facility was difficult, he now says he rarely feels the urge to use drugs.
Photo by Hwang Seo-yul chestnut@

Nam Myungwoo (27, male) initially had no idea he was using drugs. In June last year, Nam worked as a heavy equipment operator at a soil environment-related company, usually working in pairs. He often had back pain, and a colleague in his team recommended a "vitamin injection," saying, "If you get this, your concentration improves and the pain goes away." However, it was actually methamphetamine, and by the time he found out, he was already addicted. Feeling the pain relief, he used the drug 2-3 times a day through this colleague. After about a month, the colleague confessed that the injection was a drug. Nam said, "At first, I resented him, but the drug felt better, so I stopped thinking that way." Later, the colleague said, "It's hard to get the drug now," and "A junior I know has some, but you have to pay to buy it," and that's how Nam got involved in purchasing drugs.

After being caught using drugs at work and leaving the company in September last year, Nam lived every day using drugs due to depression and anxiety. Eventually, he was arrested at his parents' home. Although he tried not to use drugs again, he sought them even after police investigations. Within two months, he spent all the money he earned from working and accumulated a debt of 93 million won. In September, Nam was sentenced to five years in prison with a two-year probation for drug use. Reflecting on his experience, Nam said, "I think I wasn't cautious about drugs," and added, "Instead of just education telling people 'don't do it,' there needs to be concrete education about what happens when you use drugs, what legal penalties you face, and what happens to people who use drugs."

"A Promise to My Dad"... Devoted to Rehabilitation Dreaming of an Ordinary Life

Although the reasons for encountering drugs differed among the four young people, their current goal is the same: to quit drugs. They are living a regulated life at Gyeonggi-do DARC, rediscovering their center.

Juhyunseong (25, pseudonym) is contemplating ways to live happily without drugs.
Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

Lee promised to quit drugs to her 'Papi' (Spanish for dad) and said this was her fifth day since admission. Lee's childhood dream was to become a celebrity. However, intoxicated by drugs, her dream was sidelined, and time passed quickly. Now, Lee is beginning to envision a future living with her father, who resides abroad. She said, "Since we lived apart, my dad often called, and each time I felt I wasn't proud of myself," adding, "When my dad comes to Korea, I want to take care of him and live together." Lee, who loves flowers, has also started thinking about living by making flower-related decorations or painting. When asked what she would say to her past self, she said in a low, stern tone, "Don't do it, please."

Nam has been drug-free for eight months since entering the center in February. He had previously tried to overcome addiction, but it was not easy. Nam said, "From December last year to January this year, I attended outpatient psychiatric treatment," adding, "I received treatment during the day, but I didn't go every day, and at night I had free time with no one to control me." He continued, "Here, we control each other with fellow patients and maintain a regular lifestyle, which greatly helps with quitting." It was not easy at first. For three months after admission, cravings came, and he mentally simulated "how to sneak out of here." This was due to drug aftereffects. Nam said, "Because of the aftereffects, I was suspicious of people and felt like I was being watched." He is gradually recovering his health here. His weight dropped to 65 kg while using drugs but has now returned to 80 kg. By eating meals at set times, receiving education, exercising, and sleeping repeatedly, he now says he doesn't even think about drugs when hearing about them.

Min cut ties with people he met through drugs. Even routine, regulated activities like waking up early and making the bed were difficult for him. Min said, "Using drugs weakens bodily functions and causes poor digestion," adding, "I am trying to restore my functions through exercise." Joo, in his ninth month of rehabilitation, finds group living challenging but is striving to find "a way to live happily without drugs." Joo said, "Honestly, I haven't found out what that is yet," but his desire for an "ordinary life" was clear. Joo emphasized to anyone curious about drugs, "Once you start, you may be trapped in drugs for a very long time, and even after quitting, it can be difficult to live a normal life," urging, "It's best not to start at all."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.