A Childhood of Safety — Until It Was Not
He grew up in what appeared to be a normal home — safe, hopeful, and filled with the ordinary dreams of childhood. Life followed a predictable rhythm until his parents separated. After spending a brief period living with his mother, custody was transferred to his father. Not long after, his father remarried, and he began living with his stepmother. What followed was not merely a change in household, but the beginning of a trauma that would shape the rest of his life.
At the age of eight, he became the target of sustained sexual exploitation by his stepmother. This abuse was repeated and deliberate, occurring within the very space meant to protect him. Despite attempts by community members to raise concerns and alert authorities, little meaningful intervention took place. With no safe place to escape and no effective protection, his world collapsed into fear, silence, and confusion.
To endure the nightly abuse and overwhelming emotional distress, drugs were introduced into his life at a shockingly young age. What began as a way to numb pain soon developed into dependency. Substances became a survival mechanism — a way to disconnect from reality — and this coping strategy followed him into adulthood.
This is not fiction. It is a lived reality for some children and youth in the Maldives. His story represents one of many, revealing the devastating consequences of unaddressed abuse and systemic silence.
A Crisis Not Limited to One Child: The Maldives Context
Sexual exploitation of children in the Maldives is not an isolated issue. Reports indicate that the country has among the highest rates of child sexual abuse material reports in South Asia, pointing to widespread exposure of minors to exploitation. Beyond online abuse, real-world exploitation persists, including child prostitution and trafficking, despite existing legal prohibitions.
These patterns reveal deeper structural vulnerabilities. Family breakdown, weak child-protection enforcement, fear of stigma, and social silence contribute to environments where abuse can continue unchecked. When exploitation occurs within families, victims are often left with no safe alternatives and no voice that is truly heard.
Drug Use and Addiction Among Youth in the Maldives
What began as a forced coping mechanism for this child became a long-term struggle with substance dependence. Drug use among youth in the Maldives has shown sustained prevalence over the years, with thousands of cases recorded nationally. Historical and recent surveys consistently highlight concerning levels of substance use among young people, particularly those aged 15 to 24.
More recent national analyses show juvenile involvement not only in drug use but also in possession and trafficking. These patterns underscore how addiction intersects with vulnerability. For many young people, drug use does not begin as experimentation, but as an attempt to manage emotional pain, trauma, neglect, or instability. Limited access to mental health services and trauma-informed care further reinforces this cycle.
The Neurobiology of Trauma and Addiction
Understanding why prolonged trauma often leads to addiction requires looking at how trauma alters the developing brain. Chronic childhood abuse disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the system responsible for managing stress responses. This leads to prolonged cortisol release, keeping the body in a constant state of threat and making individuals more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation.
Children exposed to such trauma may turn to substances as a way to self-soothe overwhelming emotions. Initially, drugs alter neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endogenous opioids, creating brief relief. Over time, the brain adapts by reducing its own chemical production, which can lead to tolerance and dependence. Addiction then becomes less about choice and more about survival, with brain circuitry shaped by both trauma and early substance exposure.
Mental Health: A Silent Epidemic
Mental health challenges in the Maldives are increasingly acknowledged, yet services remain limited. Individuals with substance use disorders frequently experience co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and disordered eating. Among adolescents, global data suggests that approximately one in seven lives with a mental health disorder, and self-harm remains a significant concern — a pattern reflected in local youth studies.
For someone with a history of exploitation and addiction, these overlapping struggles create a profound sense of isolation. Traumatic memories, shame, social disconnection, and chemical dependency often leave individuals feeling lost, without direction, and without a place they feel safe returning to.
Cultural and Islamic Perspectives on Healing and Recovery
In the Maldives, faith — particularly Islam — plays a central role in shaping moral understanding and responses to suffering. Islam recognises human vulnerability and does not frame trauma or addiction as moral failure. Instead, it emphasises mercy, justice, and compassion.
Concepts such as tawbah encourage turning away from harmful paths and seeking renewal, while sabr is understood as active resilience rather than passive endurance. Community responsibility and ummah solidarity reinforce the idea that healing should not occur in isolation. Islamic teachings call for rehabilitation, dignity, and care for those who have been wronged, supporting approaches to recovery that are compassionate rather than punitive.
Breaking the Silence: What Must Change
This story is not an exception; it is part of a broader pattern. Meaningful change requires strengthening child-protection systems so reports of abuse lead to real intervention. Mental health services must be expanded beyond urban centres, and addiction must be reframed as a public health issue rather than solely a criminal one. Healing must integrate cultural understanding, faith-based support, and evidence-based psychological care.
His life — shaped by betrayal, survival, and addiction — reflects both the devastating impact of unaddressed trauma and the urgent need for societal transformation. Stories like his confront us with a collective responsibility, not just to listen, but to act.
Confidentiality & Consent
All client stories shared are done with informed consent. Names, identities, and any identifying details have been intentionally withheld or altered to protect privacy and dignity.
Child abuse manifests in many forms, including verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. Forcing daughters into marriage before they are mature enough to make informed life choices constitutes a serious violation of their rights. When a child is abused by a stepparent and the biological parent is aware of the abuse yet remains silent out of fear of losing their spouse, this too is a grave form of child abuse. No child should ever be subjected to such trauma. No child deserves to go through such suffering. Sadly, these practices continue to exist within Maldivian society. It is imperative to raise awareness, break the silence, and ensure that every child’s voice is heard and protected.
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