KUALA LUMPUR: Curiosity, stress and peer influence are among the main reasons why young Malaysians get involved in substance abuse, says Hannah Yeoh.
The Youth and Sports Minister said this was among the findings of a behavioural study conducted in selected high-risk areas by the Malaysian Institute for Youth Research (Iyres) between September last year and February this year.
"Among the factors leading respondents to use drugs and illegal substances were curiosity (30.1%), stress (20.9%), and peer influence (18.9%)," she said in a written reply to Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran) in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (July 23).
While there was a slight decrease in the overall number of drug addicts in the country, she noted that the number of youths involved in substance abuse had increased.
"Based on statistics from the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), the number of drug and substance abuse cases among youths aged between 15 and 30 has increased over the past two years.
"In 2023, a total of 46,401 youths were identified as being involved in drug and substance abuse.
"This number rose to 55,369 last year, an increase of 19.3% or 8,968," she said.
By ethnicity, she said Malay youths accounted for 76% of the total in both years.
"The number increased from 35,280 in 2023 to 42,076 last year, a 19.3% increase," she added.
She said Indian youths recorded an increase of 1,014 (34.5%), rising from 2,937 in 2023 to 3,951 last year.
"Chinese youths showed an increase of 446 (19.3%), from 2,312 in 2023 to 2,758 last year," she said.
Indigenous youths from Sabah and Sarawak recorded increases of 8.7% and 8.9%, respectively.
"The 'others' category showed the highest relative increase, with 251 individuals (40.3%), although the actual number was small, from 623 in 2023 to 874 last year," she added.
Yeoh said several measures and programmes have been implemented to curb the rise of substance abuse among youths.
Among them is the Drug-Free Youth Campaign, launched on April 21, with stakeholders, the police, AADK and the University of Malaya Medical Centre.
She said her ministry had also urged the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes (Puspal) to adopt improved guidelines for performances by foreign artists to better protect youths against the dangers of substance abuse.
