A former prisoner turned TikToker exposes how addicts masterfully conceal their habits, using his own past to guide others through a unique rehab programme
PUCHONG: Former prison inmate Syed Barkath Amin Syed Mohd Tarmidzi said he produces awareness content on the dangers of drugs because many addicts are skilled at hiding their addiction.
Syed Barkath Amin, who is also a TikToker, said most users are able to cover their tracks well, including himself at one time.
“We can hide until we become ‘heavy users’ without our families realising it. We stay in our room a bit longer and our family thinks we’re doing work.
“When we don’t eat, we’ll tell them that we’re sick. The truth is most of the time these drug addicts are hiding in their room because they haven’t slept for days while abusing drugs,” he said.
Syed Barkath Amin, 36, added that some users may appear normal but are in fact under the continuous influence of drugs.
“I once lost a close friend to a heart attack after prolonged drug use. He was only 36. People thought he was fine, but his heart had been pumping (under extreme pressure) non-stop. At some point, his body just couldn’t take it anymore,” he said.
The loss of his former housemate was a turning point for him to quit completely after nearly experiencing an overdose and severe paranoia around 2014.
“I didn’t sleep for five days, heard whispers, my heart was racing. That was when I realised if I continued, I might not survive.”
Now more than a decade drug-free, he chose to rebuild his life by establishing Kolar Merah around the end of 2023 as a platform to help those facing similar struggles.
“I thought instead of doing something negative, it’s better to use my experience to help others.”
Kolar Merah provides accommodation, transport and an internal leadership system for participants, most of whom are referred through the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) or have prison records.
Participants are screened at Kolar Merah to ensure they are not wanted by authorities, do not have severe mental health issues and genuinely have the determination to quit drugs.
The rehabilitation programme begins with a three-month phase focused on discipline and personal transformation, followed by motivational sessions and entrepreneurship training — including selling aromatherapy and cosmetic products supplied by Syed Barkath Amin’s own company.
“We teach them business from A to Z. Many former inmates struggle to follow rules in regular jobs. So we create a controlled environment with leaders who understand their background,” he said, adding that peer influence plays a crucial role.
“If ordinary people advise them, they won’t listen. But when someone who has gone through the same experience gives advice, they are more likely to accept it.”
“In the early stages, the relapse rate reached 80%. However, after several years of operating, the success rate has improved to around 90% to 95%.
“Before, out of 10 people, maybe only two would succeed. Now maybe only one or two would relapse,” he said.
Although he does not receive official financial assistance, he works closely with Nada, the prison department and the police to monitor participants’ progress and ensure they stay on the right path.
