ID :
94977
Tue, 12/15/2009 - 14:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/94977
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SYNTHETIC DRUG USE RAMPANT, SAYS AGENCY
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The incidence of synthetic drug use in Malaysia is still high although various efforts have been taken to eradicate the problem, said National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) director-general Abd Bakir Zin.
He said the youths preferred to take synthetic drugs as an easy way to 'have
fun' compared to other types of drug.
"Their drug taking is often associated with increasing crime rates as most
of them are jobless. However, we will continuously monitor the situaton and hold
community programmes to address the problem," he said before closing the
agency's annual Sports Day and presenting prizes to the winners.
Abd Bakir said to date, the agency had registered 12,000 new drug addicts
while 41,000 addicts were still receiving treatment, including 7,000 at the drug
rehabilitation centres, while 34,000 were under the agency's and police
supervision.
"Of the 34,000, 6,000 are jobless while the rest are self-employed or public
or private sector employees."
Abd Bakir said each week the agency's offices in the states would conduct
integrated operations to ensure that unregistered drug addicts would face legal
action and given treatment.
"The operations involve the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela),
non-governmental organisations, Civil Defence Department and the village
development and security committees.
"Apart from that, we plan to hold a community service programme once a month
in every district from January next year to enable the community to establish
rapport with NADA officers to tackle the drug and crime problems."
Abd Bakir also stressed that the agency always cooperated with all
departments in the Home Ministry, other government departments and NGOs in
tackling the drug abuse problem.
"Therefore, the recent claims by certain quarters that the agency did not
cooperate with such groups should not arise," he said.
About 1,300 of the agency's staff nationwide attended the four-day sports
event which ended Sunday.
-- BERNAMA
He said the youths preferred to take synthetic drugs as an easy way to 'have
fun' compared to other types of drug.
"Their drug taking is often associated with increasing crime rates as most
of them are jobless. However, we will continuously monitor the situaton and hold
community programmes to address the problem," he said before closing the
agency's annual Sports Day and presenting prizes to the winners.
Abd Bakir said to date, the agency had registered 12,000 new drug addicts
while 41,000 addicts were still receiving treatment, including 7,000 at the drug
rehabilitation centres, while 34,000 were under the agency's and police
supervision.
"Of the 34,000, 6,000 are jobless while the rest are self-employed or public
or private sector employees."
Abd Bakir said each week the agency's offices in the states would conduct
integrated operations to ensure that unregistered drug addicts would face legal
action and given treatment.
"The operations involve the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela),
non-governmental organisations, Civil Defence Department and the village
development and security committees.
"Apart from that, we plan to hold a community service programme once a month
in every district from January next year to enable the community to establish
rapport with NADA officers to tackle the drug and crime problems."
Abd Bakir also stressed that the agency always cooperated with all
departments in the Home Ministry, other government departments and NGOs in
tackling the drug abuse problem.
"Therefore, the recent claims by certain quarters that the agency did not
cooperate with such groups should not arise," he said.
About 1,300 of the agency's staff nationwide attended the four-day sports
event which ended Sunday.
-- BERNAMA
