The revised law expands access to treatment for drug dependants and encourages voluntary treatment for all groups. - Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail
Saifuddin: Over 97,000 users recorded in first half of the year
MORE than 97,000 individuals were found to be using synthetic drugs from January to June of this year, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic).
The Home Minister said the figure makes up over 72% of the 134,916 recorded drug users and addicts during the same period.
Saifuddin Nasution was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) who asked on the extent of synthetic drug problems in the country.
He said the government is intensifying prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation efforts to curb the spread of these increasingly dangerous substances.
Among the key initiatives are public awareness campaigns targeting families, schools, workplaces and communities.
“These include programmes such as Family on Alert (FOA), Pintar, Tomorrow’s Leader, Sayangi Hidup Elak Derita Selamanya (Shields), Tempat Kerja Bebas Dadah (Tekad) and SMART,” he said in a parliamentary written reply.
Another effort to ensure the abuse of the illegal substance would not spread to youths, Saifuddin Nasution said a National Anti-Drug Communication Plan was developed.
The plan, he said, targets all age groups with particular focus on young people, to strengthen the country’s long-term strategy against synthetic drugs.
On enforcement, Saifuddin Nasution said joint operations with the police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and other relevant agencies will continue to be intensified to crack down on drug trafficking and abuse.
“A major policy shift also came into effect on Aug 22, with amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.
“The revised law expands access to treatment for drug dependants and encourages voluntary treatment for all groups, including youths, aiming to reduce stigma and improve recovery pathways.
“It is stressed that synthetic drugs remain a serious and evolving threat, but the government will remain focused on its commitment to a combination of prevention, enforcement and comprehensive rehabilitation to combat the issue,” he added.
