The path to rehabilitation of the head of the residential group who was once addicted to drugs

(Baonghean.vn) - Looking at the head of the residential group, Pham Duc Duong (born in 1985, residing in block 13, Dong Vinh ward, Vinh city) diligently doing social work, and at night he and his wife bend down to sweep trash in the market area, no one would think that this man had spent a long time in and out of prison after falling into drug addiction.

A time of mistakes

In 2007, Duong was lured into drugs by bad friends. His plan to get a job after graduating from college went up in smoke when he pawned his diploma, which he had worked hard for three years, to get money to satisfy his addiction. Duong also stole valuable items that his parents had worked hard to obtain and sold or pawned them.

Duong was sent to drug rehabilitation centers many times by his parents, but not long after that he reoffended. Unable to persuade his son, Duong's parents decided to marry him off, hoping that their son would change, work hard, and take care of his family.

Mr. Pham Duc Duong

However, Duong still had the same old problem. For 4 years (from 2007 to 2011), his elderly parents had to follow Duong to pawn shops every day to redeem the things that their son had sold and pawned, then worked hard to pay off the debts that Duong had borrowed from people to get money for drug addiction.

In mid-2011, when his young wife was 5 months pregnant, Duong was arrested for illegal possession of drugs. The day Duong stood before the judge to receive his 26-month prison sentence was also the day his wife gave birth.

Serving his sentence at Prison No. 6 (Thanh Chuong), Duong expressed his regret when thinking about his son being born without a father by his side, and the image of his old and weak parents traveling every month to visit him in prison. Duong is determined to quit drugs, reform well to be released soon, do honest work, and make up for the mistakes he made in the past.

Efforts to reform

In 2013, Duong was released from prison. Feeling guilty for his mistake, he felt inferior and locked himself in the house for a whole month, not contacting or talking to anyone. But then he thought of his old and weak parents who were still hunched over day and night, and of his young wife who worked hard in the sun and rain to collect scrap metal with their young child. Duong told himself that he had to put the past behind him to move forward and be the support for his family.

With the encouragement of neighbors, the block, and the ward, along with the special policy to help people who have made mistakes and reform, Duong was accepted to work at the management board of Dong Vinh market. To earn more income, Duong asked to clean the market with a salary of 600,000 VND/month.

Having a job, having faith and the desire to reform, he began to throw himself into his work enthusiastically as if to make up for what he had done to his family in the past. Gradually gaining the trust of the people, he was elected as the head of residential group No. 5 (Block 13, Dong Vinh Ward). He also proposed plans and initiatives to help his neighborhood be peaceful, reducing social evils such as drugs, gambling, etc.

Certificate of merit from the Chairman of Dong Vinh Ward People's Committee for Mr. Pham Duc Duong in his capacity as head of residential group number 5

With his achievements, in 2015 he was awarded a certificate of merit by the chairman of Dong Vinh ward for his excellent performance of his duties.

In addition to social work, Mr. Duong is also known as a dutiful son, a responsible husband who loves his wife and children, a good neighbor, and always helps those around him.

Every day, after completing the local jobs assigned to him, to earn extra income, he went to work for hire. From painting houses, cutting trees, to carrying molds, he took on all the tasks enthusiastically and responsibly.

“I am who I am today partly thanks to the sincere encouragement and help of my neighbors and ward and block officials. They have joined hands to create conditions for me not only mentally but also professionally. I will try not to repeat my mistakes and become a useful person for my family and society,” Mr. Duong shared.

Hoang Hai