Rooting out the drug menace
All must work together to keep youth away from drug abuse.
STUDENTS from schools with social and drug problems, will have their urine tested, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
“We’ve a programme with the police, National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) and non-governmental organisations like the Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam). We’re serious. We’ll only go to the hotspots. Schools with no records need not worry,” he said.
On Sept 19, The Star reported that the number of teenage drug addicts, especially in lower and upper secondary schools, has been rising over the past few years.
Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya on Nov 14, Mahdzir warns of a painkiller with opioid analgesic, that’s being abused in the US.
“It’s not happening here yet but it’s very dangerous. It can drive you mad,” he said, adding that in some northern states and in Kelantan, ketum is mixed with mosquito repellant and cough mixture.
“They sell it for RM2 to RM3 like packets of ice lemon tea. Many drugs - opium, heroin, morphine, and cannabis - are being abused. But it’s the synthetic drugs that have been tampered with, that are easy to get and very dangerous. These stimulants act fast in children,” he warned. We cannot hide facts. We must be open so that the community can see what’s happening, he said.
While 1,410 students were found to have experimented with drugs from January to July this year, they aren’t addicts.
These students, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon told the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 13, are still in school but are monitored and undergoing counselling with the school counsellor.
The ministry, he said, identifies high-risk groups to be tested by Nada as it doesn’t have the apparatus or funding to conduct its own tests.
“If we were to do urine tests for all 4.7 million students nationwide, it’d cost a lot. And, students who aren’t involved with drugs, would be psychologically impacted if they were tested. Their parents would object.”
Students who test positive for drugs, will be sent to a school counsellor for three months before having to do another urine test. If they test positive again, they’ll be sent to Nada’s experts for rehabilitation.
These students aren’t categorised as addicts because addicts, dealers or those in possession of drugs, are referred to the police to be investigated.
“Most drug problems don’t happen in schools. It’s the outside influence including the family’s social-economic status, and the crowd they mix with. That’s why we have to pay attention to those in high-risk areas.”
Nada director-general Datuk Dr Abd Halim Mohd Hussin said some 50 students are currently being treated at its Cure and Care Rehabilitation Centre (CCRC) nationwide under a court order.
And, over 200 youths below age 21 have voluntarily sought help at the 1Malaysia Cure & Care Clinics, he said.
Nada’s district offices, and Cure & Care Service Centres (CCSC) - a ‘halfway house’ for those with drug problems, saw more than 650 youths aged between 13 and 19, from January to July this year. CCSC is voluntarily. Addicts can stay at the centres, or come for the daily programme.
Nada helps addicts released after treatment, and those ordered by the court to undergo rehabilitation in the community.
“Underage addicts also come under our care.”
Nada offers guidance and coun- selling, relapse prevention, social support groups, family activities, psychology education, religious, spiritual, and values inculcation, medical care, health education, career development, social integration, house visits, and outreach programmes.
The ministry, said Chong, started carrying out anti-drug measures among students in 1986. These include preventive education, and interventions, in and outside of class.
All schools have a drug abuse prevention committee to coordinate the programme’s activities for the entire year. Together with Nada, the ministry carries out:
> Sayangi Hidup Elak Derita Selamanya (Shields) for students found to have experimented with drugs;
> Urine tests for secondary students; and
> Program Intelek Asuhan Rohani (Pintar) for primary students in high-risk areas.
The Pintar programme, which started in 1998, aims to educate students on the effects and dan-
We have four-day camps involving as many as 50 students from every district who have been identified as being g at risk (for drugs). Dr Abd Halim
gers of substance abuse, and build life skills and resilience.
“We have four-day camps involving as many as 50 students from every district who have been identified as being at risk,” said Dr Abd Halim.
The goal is to increase their assertive, coping, and stress-dealing skills, while increasing the involvement of families in guiding their children to overcome drug-related problems.
Chong said under the Gerak Sedar Bersepadu (Progress) programme, agencies like Felda, local councils, youth and social welfare departments, and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), work together to increase activities near the homes of those in high-risk areas.
Collaborations between government and non-governmental organisations are needed to curb drug abuse in schools, he said, explaining that there were sometimes discrepancies between the police and ministry’s data because when nabbed outside of school, some offenders falsely claim to be students.