Month: May 2025

Watching a movie the way it was meant to be seen — on a giant screen with crystal-clear visuals and surround sound — is simply unmatched. While your TV at home may be impressive, it can’t replicate the full immersion of soaring through space or sitting at the edge of a dramatic face-off on a 22-metre-wide screen. Cinemas like GVmax at VivoCity take things further with Dolby Atmos sound technology, featuring 67 overhead and surround speakers that immerse you in every whisper, explosion, or musical swell.

Filmmakers are also designing their movies for this very experience. Recent epics like Oppenheimer, Dune: Part Two and Sinners were shot on IMAX cameras, offering their full impact only in theatres.

Traumatised by his parents’ divorce and his father’s drug-related behaviour, Xavier began acting out in primary school — storming out of class, neglecting schoolwork, and lashing out at others.

Research shows that children who experience unstable home environments due to drug use are more likely to develop mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and conduct disorders. Many, like Xavier, struggle to regulate emotions, leading to anger, aggression, and isolation.

Studies show a heightened risk of child maltreatment in households affected by substance abuse. In Xavier’s case, his father resorted to caning out of fear his son might follow a similar path – a response that ultimately created distance and emotional pain.

Drug abuse leaves lasting scars even on those in recovery. Many former users face a high risk of relapse, particularly when exposed to stress — a concerning reality in Singapore, where the average age of first-time drug use is just 16.

One example is PTE Choy*, who abused drugs and inhalants before his enlistment. Placed under a Drug Supervision Order by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), he entered recovery but struggled with the adjustment to National Service (NS) while coping with his family’s financial issues, his father’s poor health, and his brother’s incarceration.

Like Xavier, PTE Choy struggled with emotional regulation – a common challenge during recovery. The lingering effects of drug abuse shaped his behaviour and temperament. His Commanding Officer, CPT Lim, recognised his struggles and stepped in — helping him apply for financial support and encouraging him to stay on track with camp training.

Today, PTE Choy is able to accept disciplinary correction without lashing out. He’s committed to his counselling and urine tests, and has even been promoted to LCP.

While NS can be a challenging period of transition, the added burden of addiction recovery made it even more difficult. Without support from CPT Lim and his own determination to change, PTE Choy could have easily relapsed.