Rise in drug abuse a grave concern, says Fatimah

KUCHING: Illicit drug use is a matter of grave concern in Sarawak as more and more students and youths including those in rural areas are in ‘bondage’ to the illegal substance, especially syabu, now.

Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said based on data analysis and dialogues carried out by the state Social Development Council (SDC), drug abuse and trafficking cases in the state were on the rise.

She said syabu could cause permanent brain damage if used continuously.

“Although the number of cases in the state is still low (compared to Peninsular Malaysia), this menace must be nipped in the bud before it becomes cancerous in the community,” she told a press conference after chairing the SDC meeting here yesterday.

She pointed out that drug and substance abuse had also begun to intrude all levels of society including in the rural areas, while there is already a correlation between the increase in drug abuse and minor crime such as motorcycle thefts.

She also revealed that an average of two out of 10 cases of teen pregnancy tested positive for drugs and an average of six out of 10 cases of couples having family problems had partners involved in drug abuse.

Fatimah said the integrated action plan to tackle drug menace, which was implemented in Limbang in May, would be refined and be made as guidelines for other divisions to follow beginning next year.

On teen pregnancy, Fatimah said Sarawak still recorded the highest percentage of cases in the country.

She noted that teenage girls accounted for between 6.4 per cent and 9.9 per cent of the total number of women registering their pregnancies in the state last year.

In comparison, the percentage of teenage pregnancies registered in Malaysia in the same period was between 2.4 per cent and 4.1 per cent, she added.

She said from January to June this year, a total of 1,135 teenage pregnancies were recorded in Sarawak, whereas throughout last year, 2,481 cases were recorded.

Also present at the press conference was Assistant Minister of Community Wellbeing Datuk Francis Harden Hollis.