While he was on drugs, Luke said he had lost a significant amount of weight and looked “malnourished” PHOTO CREDIT: he was getting clean, he started taking up odd jobs. This gave him the final push to cut off all contact with his suppliers and the “bad influences”. I looked like I hadn’t slept in so many days, (or even) months,” he said. “I saw myself and my face was all sunken in. While he couldn’t shake off this guilt, he only curbed his addiction after seeing his reflection. Until now, he recalls how his mother pleaded with him, saying she was growing old and couldn’t afford to continue taking care of him. I was taking the drugs (and) was honestly crying while taking them. This continued for about six months before he hit rock bottom. Just one month after he was released, he reconnected with his old friends and relapsed. Luke shared that his mother remained his pillar of support even at the height of his addiction. He said: “I was very blessed that my mum came and visited me every time (she could)… she even borrowed books for me to read, which I’m very thankful and blessed for.” Throughout his sentence, his mother was his only solace. For two months, he was unable to sleep well. On top of that, he had to deal with withdrawal symptoms. You can’t really get to go out, you don’t have a phone, you don’t get to eat the food that you like to eat.” “It was actually mentally tough for me in the Detention Barracks. PHOTO CREDIT: the next 11 months and two weeks, he was confined in a small cell at the Singapore Armed Forces Detention Barracks (DB).Īs he recounted his stay in DB, he shared he had nothing but a straw mat to sleep on. Luke was eight when his parents got divorced, and he has been raised by mother since then. Seeing her cry actually made me… I teared, I teared in court.” “When I was at court, I saw my mum (and) she actually cried. There, he was forced to confront the impact his actions had on others. I’ll just go and pee, give the urine and serve the consequences,” he said.Ī month later, his urine test came back positive and he was sent to the military court. Luke recalls how he tried to evade it, telling his sergeant he was feeling unwell and had to visit the doctor. About six months in, he had to go for a mass urine test.

Using his existing eczema condition as a front, he got his fixes from the 14-day medical leaves it granted him.īut his constant booking in and out of camp soon came to a halt. During National Service, Luke found himself facing a harsher reality.Ī day after enlisting, he started to “ keng ” (hokkien for feigning sickness). Yet without realising, he became an addict and was kicked out of school multiple times. “We always think that drugs (are) for fun… ‘any time can quit’. “At that young age, we don’t think too much of the consequences (of taking drugs),” he said. This downward spiral began when he was 15. What started as a quick puff on a cigarette turned into smoking cannabis, before escalating to snorting methamphetamine – a hard drug more commonly known as crystal meth.

Driven by curiosity, Luke had dipped his toes before plunging into the deep end. He recalls being surrounded by “bad influences” who regularly smoked and used drugs. Just three years ago, Luke was an addict.

Luke has recently been signed to Titan Digital Media, a digital marketing agency that was founded by influencer JianHao Tan. While much of his content is lighthearted and comedic, Luke also uses his platform to advocate against drug use. Armed with tattoo sleeves and a slew of Singaporean slang, Luke Chan is no stranger to the local TikTok For You Page.īetter known by his online moniker, Lukeychan, the 25-year-old full-time content creator has amassed over 120k followers on TikTok with his skits and vlogs. Luke Chan, 25, shares how he uses his life story to ensure others stay on the right path.Ī sweep of bleached hair, furrowed brows and wide eyes fill the screen. In celebration of Youth Month, Youthopia is highlighting stories of youth who have created spark in their life.

Old habits die hard asying