KUALA LUMPUR: Urgent and intensified efforts are needed to combat the growing abuse of synthetic drugs among school-going youths, describing the trend as deeply alarming and a serious threat to the nation's future.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the development signals an evolving drug threat increasingly targeting young people and requires immediate and coordinated intervention.
"Synthetic drugs are often more potent, unpredictable and difficult to detect than traditional substances," he said when contacted on Saturday (Feb 21).
His comments follow concerns raised by the National Anti-Drug Agency over the increasing misuse of synthetic substances among students.
Lee warned that their discreet forms and modern distribution methods, including through digital platforms, have made enforcement more challenging and placed students at greater risk.
"If left unchecked, this trend could lead to serious long-term consequences such as mental health deterioration, increased involvement in crime and the erosion of our nation's future human capital," he said.
Lee stressed that drug abuse among students is not merely a law enforcement issue but also a public health, social and national development concern that demands sustained action.
To strengthen the national response, he proposed several measures, including enhancing preventive efforts in schools through structured anti-drug education, trained counsellors and peer-support initiatives.
He also called for intensified enforcement by strengthening cyber-monitoring capabilities, improving cross-border intelligence cooperation and imposing tougher penalties on suppliers targeting minors.
In addition, Lee urged authorities to tighten regulations on high-risk products that could be misused for drug consumption and to conduct random testing of suspicious products in the market.
He further recommended expanding youth-focused rehabilitation programmes, including adolescent-friendly treatment centres, family-based support systems and education continuity schemes to ensure affected students are not left behind academically.
Lee also emphasised the need for a whole-of-society approach involving parents, schools, communities and social institutions in early prevention and awareness efforts.
"The warning from the National Anti-Drug Agency should serve as a national wake-up call for immediate and decisive intervention.
"Protecting our children from the scourge of drugs is a shared responsibility and must remain a top national priority for the sake of our country's future," he said.
