Public feedback requested for National Drugs Policy

The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) is urging the public to give their views on the National Drugs Policy implementation plan through its website beginning today until Nov 30.

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the policy, which had been agreed upon by the Cabinet on March 10, would serve as the main guideline in the fight against drugs in the country.

"This policy is an effort in tackling problems associated with the drug menace in a holistic and comprehensive manner involving five main areas of focus, namely prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, enforcement, reducing ill-effects and international cooperation.

"Therefore, we need public involvement by providing information or views which may be considered and included by the AADK in the policy before it is launched by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Home Minister,” he added.

Nur Jazlan said this after opening the National Drugs Research Convention and Rehabilitation Catalyst Community Seminar at Universiti Islam Sains Malaysia, Nilai today.

He said the National Drugs Policy had been drawn up to be more comprehensive as there would be specific enforcement between the police and AADK.

"If previously there were two channels of drugs enforcement activities, namely the police channel, where the addicts would be arrested, charged and imprisoned, and the AADK channel, where it was also involved in arrests as well as in rehabilitation through the Cure & Care Clinic.

"However, under the new policy, police will focus on combating drug trafficking while the AADK on rehabilitation activities until the addicts are able to kick their addiction and return to society," he said.

On another note, Nur Jazlan said he expected the unemployment rate to increase in future due to the greater use of technology and robots in industries, which would change families’ socioeconomic status.

"When jobs are taken over by technology and robots, the future generation, whether they are educated or not, may not be able to find employment and hence experience pressure, so they may need an escape from their frustrations by turning to drugs. Therefore, the relevant measures must be taken from now,” he said.

Based on the latest statistics from the AADK, 11,733 people were detected to be involved in drug abuse between January and June, this year.

Those aged 19 to 39 made up the biggest number at 8,510 of them, followed by those aged 40 and above at 2,980, and the 13-18 age group at 243.

- Bernama