HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – OCTOBER 16, 2023 Combination of long-term drug use and mental illness triggered an acute psychotic state in the man. He headed into the streets completely naked, armed with a knife, and began attacking random bystanders. He lightly injured several of them, and two seriously – one of them was a 70-year-old woman, who was transported to the emergency room in critical condition with open wounds and heavy bleeding.
When the attacker was confronted by several police officers, he chose his own end. Without hesitation or any instinct for self-preservation, he deeply slit his own throat in front of the officers and bystanders. He was later pronounced dead.
Incidents like this are a grim reminder of the dangers of drug use. Strong stimulants can trigger states of toxic psychosis, characterized by intense paranoia and hallucinations. A person in this state sometimes does not even feel pain and completely loses the instinct for self-preservation. Everything is multiplied several times over if the person already suffers from a mental illness before using the drug.
If you're thinking about self-harm, please stop and recognize that this won't solve the pain you're feeling. While it might seem like a way to cope, it leaves lasting scars, not just on your body but on your heart as well. There are healthier, safer ways to manage your emotions.
Every wound you inflict is a cry for help. You are not alone. Reaching out to someone you trust can be the first step toward finding a way out of this dark place. You deserve kindness, support, and real healing.
If you need immediate help, please contact a helpline.
