Arrested for drug abuse, former DJ now works for anti-drug group as part of DRC scheme

Straits Times

8 hours ago

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Former DJ Kyrul Ashrie Hans Daud (left) and Richard, a representative from the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, work together to advocate against the abuse of drugs.
SINGAPORE – Former DJ Kyrul Ashrie Hans Daud was a rising star in 2023 at Malay radio station Ria 89.7FM, but a drug habit ended his career.
He was 31, and partying hard with friends who were regular drug users.
Hans, as he prefers to be known, said he had been abusing drugs for seven years at that point in his life, even smoking methamphetamine, or Ice, every day at the height of his addiction.
'At first, the drug use was just once in a while, but it (eventually) became more frequent – from once every two months, once a month, and then every day,' he told The Straits Times.
Hans is now a social media executive at the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (Sana), where he advocates against the abuse of drugs.
He said: 'I've seen many different types of people in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. (Drug addiction) can happen to anyone.
'Addicts may not be aware that they have a problem. But if the people around them can spot the problem, someone's life could be saved.'
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore NDR 2025: New govt-funded traineeship scheme for ITE, poly, university graduates
Singapore NDR 2025: CDCs to spearhead new effort to match job seekers to roles nearer to home, says PM Wong
Singapore NDR 2025: US baseline tariff of 10% on Singapore offers 'little comfort', says PM Wong
Singapore NDR 2025: More avenues for S'poreans to be heard, get involved will be opened up, says PM Wong
World European leaders to join Zelensky for Ukraine talks with Trump
Sport Third time's the charm as Aaron Liang dethrones Samuel Kang en route to national squash title
Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool
Asia 'Rats from the sky': Urban India finds itself divided on pigeons
Hans knows this well. The road to recovery has not been smooth for him, he said.
He was arrested the first time in June 2023, just seven months after he tied the knot. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) had picked him up for drug consumption.
Hans was released in December 2023, but relapsed when he lost his career and after his marriage ended in September 2024.
Hans was sent to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) a second time that month.
He is now on the verge of completing his second stint at Institution S2, a step-down facility at Selarang Park Complex.
Inmates staying in the dormitories are allowed to leave for work or study or to attend skills training in the community before returning in the evening.
The Day Release Scheme is one of four community-based programmes that the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) offers to eligible inmates at the tail end of their sentences. It is part of efforts to help them reintegrate into society.
Mr Kyrul Ashrie Hans Daud is now a social media executive at the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
For Hans, it means he is allowed to leave the compound to go to work at Sana.
In the evenings, he returns to the dormitory, which he shares with 15 other male inmates.
The facility has 16 dorms, which can house 16 supervisees each. As at June 30, 123 supervisees, aged between 19 and 81, were residents.
Speaking to ST at Institution S2 on July 3, Hans said he decided to share his story to help others who are fighting addiction.
After his release the first time, he said, he struggled to cope with the loss of his career as a DJ and his marriage.
With no other coping mechanisms, Hans called up a friend who supplied him with drugs.
'I took a few puffs, and I realised, 'Damn, I am an addict, even after 10 months (of being clean), I couldn't let this go'.
'I didn't like the term 'addict', but I knew I had to acknowledge it and do something about it.'
Although he got rid of the drugs that very night, his then wife had already alerted the authorities. A urine test came back positive, and he was back in the DRC.
This time, Hans said, he started taking his rehabilitation seriously.
He participated in rehabilitation programmes inside the DRC, including psychology-based correctional programmes, which help drug abusers change their mindsets and teach them skills to resist drugs.
'I learnt about my past traumas, which could have led to my drug use, and I began to understand how to love myself.
'With drugs, it's the high that people are chasing, but there's a lot of psychological and emotional damage.'
He said: 'The more drugs you take, the more you feel like isolating yourself, and these are unhealthy things that addicts do.'
Hans also decided to cut contact with friends who were drug users.
'Drug-using friends are a huge hurdle (to recovery),' he said.
'But I needed to let them know that I didn't want to be associated with drugs any more. It was not an easy thing to do because I've known them for so many years.'
SPS said about 600 supervisees are placed on the Day Release Scheme every year.
Supervisees in the community-based programmes are supported by reintegration officers, counsellors and case managers. If needed, they are referred to the relevant agencies for financial assistance or help with accommodation.
Once they are released, supervisees are placed under the CNB 's supervision for up to five years.
For Hans, his social support now comes mainly from his colleagues at Sana. They lend him a listening ear whenever he has something to get off his chest.
He said: 'What I try to do now is focus on the positive aspects of my life because I don't want to go back to DRC again.
'Recovery is not a one- or two-year thing; it's (going to be) my whole life. So I want to focus on rejecting the idea of drugs, and hopefully I'll succeed eventually.'