Need to check abuse of substances — Fatimah
KUCHING: Cases of substance abuse that are not considered illegal under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 are showing an upward trend based on recent developments.
Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said that activities involving the abuse of substances such as glue, Nospen pills and ketum could lead to more severe drug addictions later on.
“In 2016, the Narcotics Department of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department Sarawak seized ketum leaves weighing 2,591 grammes.
“In 2017, however, the number of cases increased to five, with a total of 5,328 grammes seized,” she said at a press conference at the Sarawak Welfare Department headquarters here yesterday.
Fatimah disclosed these statistics to the media after meeting with the National Association for the Prevention of Drugs ( Pemadam) on strategic plans on drug and substance abuse prevention and education.
She further went on to stress that drug and substance abuse amongst vulnerable students should be ‘nipped in the bud’.
“I hope that the surprise urine tests carried out by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) will be made compulsory for vulnerable students as they are our valuable human capital of the future.
“As such, I am pleased to note that our action plan to address drug and substance abuse issues in Sarawak has a SOP and proposed intervention, which I was made to understand is the first of its kind in the nation,” Fatimah said.
She added that social ills such as drug and substance abuse could be eradicated through holistic and collaborative efforts.
“Decriminalise drug and substance abusers by providing as much support and help as possible. Sometimes, they could have other issues such as psychological or family problems that drive them to drug or substance addiction.
“We should rehabilitate them and change their mindset so that they are encouraged to come forward and seek help on their own so that there would be no need for arrests,” Fatimah stated.
Also present were Women, Family and Childhood Development Assistant Minister Rosey Yunus and Community Wellbeing Assistant Minister Datuk Francis Harden.