BASMIDA Leads In Anti-Drug War
By Sobrina Rosli

Bandar Seri Begawan - Basmida, an NGO at the forefront of the country's war against drug abuse, is calling on the community never to treat exaddicts as criminals but as people who have made mistakes and needed help. Basmida President Datin Masni Mohd Ali said here yesterday that the organisation was working on educating the public and changing its mindset regarding former drug abusers.

"We are trying to (persuade) the community ... to employ (the former addicts) and ... to know that the ex-addicts are not criminals but they have made mistakes in their choices and we should help them," she said.

Basmida has been around for over 20 years and making marks in the country's efforts to battle drug abuse in the community. The organisation has 100 registered members. To obtain the goal of eradicating drug abuse in the country, the NGO organised activities such as anti-drug campaigns, youth camps, essay writing and lecture competitions on drug abuse in schools to promote the awareness of Brunei's youth.

The association is also playing the role of an after-care centre for ex-drug addicts who also become members of the association. They are called "Friends of Basmida." The association currently has 30 "Friends of Basmida" who the association tries to assist and encourage in venturing into their new lives.

"Friends of Basmida" have all gone through treatment and rehabilitation program at the national Al-Islah rehabilitation centre. Some are still undergoing the requirement of a two-year supervision programme under the Narcotic Control Bureau after completing rehabilitation programmes at AI-Islah.

`By providing our friends with the right environment where they are able to train in certain areas of skills, give them counselling and advice, to assist them as best as possible in securing them for jobs, we hope to gain their trust as well as their self esteem and confidence in going through life without drugs," said Datin Masni.

The association provides religious lectures, sewing classes, basic ICT classes for the "Friends of Basmida" in the efforts of exposing them to education to develop their skills, confidence, mind, attitude and understanding. The association also hopes to offer a wider range of courses.

"With new found selfconfidence, we hope to overcome the problem of relapse among our friends at the association," added Datin Masni

Their headquarters, located in Kampong Anggerek Desa is a meeting point for members and friends of Basmida. The association has three volunteer` councillors at the centre where they give counselling sessions every Sunday afternoon starting at 3 pm.

'Attending these counselling sessions are vital for them as it will help them adjust to going back to their families and the community as a whole," said Mordiah fackia, vice-president of Basmida, who is also one of the councillors.

"We noticed the drug of choice is still 'Syabu', `Ice' or scientifically known as methamphetamine affecting people between 25 and 40 years old, most of them are married with children," she said.

"We want the community to know, our doors are always open if they are ever involved in drug cases, we also encourage members of the public to join our association and help run our projects on a voluntarily basis" she added. There was no money becoming members, but the satisfaction we feel from helping our friends... enriches our hearts and minds," said Datin Masni. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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