Recovering drug addict, Simon Khung, famously known as SimonBoy on TikTok and Instagram shares about his struggles when faced with temptations and addictions. We find out more about how he overcomes this hurdle in his sobriety journey.
Written by Clarence Chua | Photos Courtesy of Simon Khung
“If I was a good father, my daughter would still be around,” says content creator Simon Khung, aged 35. During his rehabilitation period in a halfway house, Simon lost his only 4 year old daughter in 2020 as she was brutally murdered by his ex-wife following their divorce.
The spiral down into drugs
Drug addiction came early to Simon, at the tender age of 16. Simon was first faced with the offer to try marijuana, he agreed and followed his schoolmate. Getting hooked onto the “high”, he also tried out other drugs such as methamphetamine (ice), ecstasy, ketamine, and heroin.
During one of his “high” trips, Simon carried a knife and walked around the Ang Mo Kio estate, where he lived.
His first encounter with the law was in 2015 at the age of 28, where he was charged for assaulting someone while under the influence of drugs. After his release, he checked himself into a halfway house but left to salvage his failing marriage and be the father his daughter deserved but to no avail. He lost his marriage, custody of his daughter and battle against drugs once again.
Crashing from the high
Taking drugs no longer felt like a high but a new low.
Though no longer locked in prison, he felt confined like a prisoner of his mind with the vicious cycle of drugs, failed marriages, and lost loved ones. He felt “detached from the world” as he isolated himself away from everyone.
Simon thought taking his own life would help his situation. As he peered at the ground below, he lacked the courage to take the final leap. Escaping death this time, he knew he would not be so lucky next time and found help from The New Charis Mission to begin his second attempt to sobriety at 32 years old after 16 years of addiction.
Motherly Love
“50 to 60 people all trying to change, so I believe we can gather the strength and help one another to quit,” he said.
Never missing a week, his mother would visit him every chance she got. “She started to look very positive, very happy during the visits,” Simon smiles as he remembered his mother getting more rest and eating better knowing he was receiving help.
Simon with his mother and girlfriend - Simongirl
Moving Forward in Life
Coming across fellow TikToker and ex drug addict, Lukey Chan, Simon was inspired to create similar content and share his own drug journey to become an advocate against drug use. “I wanted to try but I felt very reluctant because last time we were gangsters,” he recalled as he was afraid of the judgement and reaction people would have.
After months of consideration, he posted his first video and received an abundance of support from the public. He shares his experience as an ex-drug addict and ex-inmate in the form of skits to post on his social media platforms for his followers.
Building a solid fanbase on TikTok, he has also started his own line of merchandise “Chance”, (@chanceapparels), selling shirts with a message of a new beginning. Simon and Lukey recently decided to kickstart Bluebird Brothers to create content together. “Two useless ex-drug addicts coming together,” he said with a laugh.
A piece of advice to those struggling with the same temptations or are contemplating taking drugs, “This ripple effect is very big and will affect everyone around you, not just yourself.”
