Reflections of a Teenage Speed Queen- Air Clinic Writing Contest

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Liza looked down at the concrete floor of her cell. Slowly she lifted her gaze and looked around at all her fellow inmates. Was this really happening? Just the week before she had been a carefree teenager celebrating her 18th birthday, surrounded by all her friends. She had partied for three days in a row , doing lines of cocaine and speed to stay awake and keep things interesting.

Of course her friends had joined her in the madness. Of course it had to happen to suddenly and without warning. Police officers had kicked down the front door of the beautiful Duplex Penthouse she had booked off Airbnb for the party and of course the music had been rudely cut off while blurry eyed, sleep and sanity deprived teenagers were ungraciously plucked from the bosom of their decadent activities.
Less than an hour later everyone had been handcuffed and hauled into a black police truck and carted to the nearest police station. Lawyers were called and one by one Liza witnessed her accomplices quietly slipping out with their respective legal counsels.
Despite her own lawyer trying his hardest to come to an agreement with the police, she had no choice but to be charged for possession and self-administration. She had rented the place, invited the guests and also laid out the free flow of party favours. Finally only ten of the 30 party guests were charged with possession of dangerous drugs. If found guilty, they were looking at up to two to three years imprisonment and God knows what else.

This is what it’s come to, 18 year olds partying like they have a permit to do so and a justice system that is clearly flawed. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply before squatting down in the corner of the crowded cell. She counted 20 girls all dressed in the standard issue prison uniform.

The bleak and troubled future loomed over her and she felt nothing but regret and remorse. Looking at aged addicts truly made her cringe. These women were in their 40s to 70s and all in various stages of psychosocial and physical decay.
She asked them how they could have possibly managed the feat of getting caught taking or dealing drugs more than two to three times a year. Their answer was that after such a long time, their addiction had turned into a lifestyle. They had lost their families and friends in the process and now drugs were the only thing they knew and cared for.
Liza discovered how hopeless and meaningless such living could be. She vowed that if she ever made it out of prison she would turn her life around.She didn’t want to end up like her new friends simply wasting away in a lifelong prison of their own making.

After months of having the case postponed and dragged on, Liza is released on bail. She heaves a huge sigh of relief. Freedom and a chance to make her life matter again.
No more dirty prison gruel, no more lesbian prison guards bullying her, no more sleeping on cold concrete floors with lice crawling on the walls.
Value life and the freedom to choose because in prison they take that right away and leave you with the most basic version of your former self.

552 word count

My comments
In Malaysia, they are proud to declare that all drug offences are given a mandatory death sentence. Due to the law being as such, drug offences can be charged under different subsections according to the amount of the drug and also the type of drug. Leading Liza’s lifestyle may seem so MTV-cool but we should all be aware of the dire consequences that await us once the party is truly over.

Life without drugs is only possible with the support and encouragement and understanding from our loved ones and there can be no rehabilitation without first having an honest desire to change and be better without drugs messing up our minds and destroying our entire being.

Liza didn’t know the price she’d have to pay in the end. The harm that comes from taking drugs will continue to hurt us years after we quit. Unfortunately the damage has already been done to the brain and internal organs. Such destruction can never fully be repaired.

This fictional piece is based on a true story. I could have gone into much more detail but I am pretty sure I would have gone way over the word limit.
I hope that you will still accept my entry and I hope to hear from anybody else who wants to understand more about the Drug Laws and Culture of Malaysia.
Disclaimer : some parts of this story may have strong language and I would like to apologise in advance if my writing has offended any parties. That was not my intention. I do hope that this story helps you and your loved ones understand the aftermath of drug abuse and unhealthy lifestyles.

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