Prevention of drug abuse begins at home, stresses assemblyman
LIMBANG: Drug addiction would continue to be the scourge of society if no concrete measures are taken to stop this menace from affecting more Malaysians, especially the youths.
In stating this, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang believed that the target of drug pushers is the younger generation – the backbone of the country’s future.
“Prevention begins at home, and at an early stage. Members of society, especially parents of teenagers, must also be able to identify those showing early symptoms of drug addiction and know where to get help for them,” he said in his opening remarks at a seminar on ‘Family Institution –Prevention of Drug Abuse Begins at Home’ conducted by National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) at Bunga Raya Hall here yesterday, where deputy AADK directorgeneral (management) Datu Jabidah Monseri and Limbang District Office representative Hamidah Halpi were also present.
Adding on, Paulus said parents must understand the crucial need for early prevention measures against drug abuse.
“This (war against drug abuse) is an area that needs full involvement from all parties including the private sector, NGOs (nongovernmental organisations) and associations.
“The government realises that this problem is not exclusive to Malaysia – it is also a global issue that needs our attention,” he said.
The assemblyman said based on last year’s statistics, he noted that many youths aged between 19 and 40 were involved in drug abuse. Moreover, he said the impact that this problem had on students remained to be a cause of grave concern.
As such, Paulus wanted the antidrug campaign launched last year to be run in full force, focusing on the target groups.
Additionally, he learned that there had been a worrying increase in demand for syabu (methamphetamine) in Asia, most likely stemming from the running of large-scale processing hubs for the drug identified in China, Myanmar and the Philippines.