Kuala lumpur: Mohd Rasli Hassan, 52, once saw his future clouded by drug abuse, but determination and a second chance have helped him turn his life around - from a recovering addict to a certified rehabilitation coach.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, he achieved the milestone after completing the Academy in Industry (ADI) programme at Rumah Rakan Islah, a private drug rehabilitation centre in Setiu, Terengganu, earning a Professional Diploma in Drug Addiction Recovery Coaching.
Mohd Rasli said the one-year programme last year equipped him with knowledge and skills in various areas, including agriculture, while helping rebuild his confidence and reshape his outlook on life. "This success proves that everyone deserves a second chance. It has helped me rebuild my confidence, change my way of thinking and develop the determination to create a better future," he told Bernama recently.
He said the achievement marked a major turning point in his life and showed that a person's past does not define their future. "I started abusing drugs at the age of 11 while living in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, and my family only discovered it eight years later after I was arrested by police.
"I was then placed at the Kuala Terengganu National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) for seven months before becoming a peer support counsellor (PRS) at the rehabilitation centre from 2017 to 2024," said Mohd Rasli, who is now serving as a rehabilitation coach at Rumah Rakan Islah.
He said the ADI programme, which combines industry-based learning and training, not only provides participants with skills but also serves as a platform for social transformation, enabling them to regain independence and contribute to society.
Rumah Rakan Islah Academic director and manager Muhammad Anas Mohd Nasar said participants selected for the ADI programme, conducted in collaboration with the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), must have been free from drug abuse and in recovery for more than five years, besides being willing to work and undergo training.
He said 10 participants had successfully completed the programme and received diplomas based on the modules and skills provided. "Actually, what is taught in the ADI programme syllabus has already been practised by us before this, but it was not documented. We carried it out based on experience and discussions.
"Once it was developed into a book, we had six modules, including rehabilitation methods and therapy, making the process more organised and systematic from the time they enter the centre until they complete treatment and begin working," he said.
Muhammad Anas said the centre, established in 2011, had seen the ADI programme build participants' confidence to improve themselves and face life challenges with the knowledge and skills gained. He added that the centre also participates in programmes organised by the Malaysian Substance Abuse Council (MASAC) in collaboration with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).