KUALA BERANG: The 31-59 age group recorded the most drug abuse cases in the country, with 92,590 people or 71.1% of the total in the January-June period.
National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh (pic) said the 15-30 age group recorded 34,471 people or 26.5% for the same period, while the over-60 group recorded 3,229 people or 2.55.
He said the statistics show that drug abuse still involves various age groups.
"AADK records show that there are individuals aged up to 63 involved in drug abuse.
"For the 15-30 age group, the figure was down from 37,494 people or 27.8% in the same period last year.
"The under-14 group recorded 17 individuals this year compared to 14 last year," he said after the handover ceremony of the Hulu Terengganu AADK office renovation project in Ajil here on Monday (Aug 24).
Ruslin said that for the over-60 group, the number of drug abuse cases saw a drop from 4,311 people (3.2%) in the year-ago period.
He said the majority of drug abuse in the 15-30 and 31-59 age groups involves synthetic drugs, particularly in east coast states on the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Ruslin said AADK welcomed the cooperation of private companies in efforts to discuss measures to address the issue of drug abuse among employees through the Drug-Free Workplace Programme.
He said that AADK, together with enforcement agencies including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), does not differentiate between professionals and non-professionals in actions related to drug abuse because any individual is at risk of being exposed.
Among the proposals to be discussed is the implementation of periodic or random urine tests as a screening measure.
"Many private companies have already implemented this programme, while some are still in the process of collaborating with the AADK," he said.
Ruslin said the Hulu Terengganu district AADK office purchase and renovation project, worth RM3.46mil, has been fully completed, providing facilities to strengthen operations and service delivery to the community.
He said AADK purchased four shop lots in 2022 and renovation work was carried out to convert them into the district office.
"Among the facilities provided are male and female lock-ups, examination rooms, briefing rooms, consultation rooms and urine screening rooms.
"Previously, the district did not have separate lock-up facilities for men and women. If there were arrests involving women, they had to be sent to another location," he said.
He said the office also functions as a community rehabilitation centre, which allows clients under court orders to undergo rehabilitation programmes periodically.
"The establishment of this office completes overall AADK operations in the district, enabling services to the community to be carried out more effectively," he added. – Bernama
