Latest news with #Anti-DrugCommunicationPlan
Daily Express
02-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Govt unveils rehab-focused anti-drug plan
Published on: Saturday, August 02, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 02, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Shamsul pictured with attendees present at the event. KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government is boosting drug prevention and rehabilitation efforts by establishing Drug Assessment Centres (DAC) and working closely with community-based groups. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah warned of increasing synthetic drug use, including flavoured mushroom vapes, and called for urgent, evidence-based interventions. DACs mark a shift from traditional detention, focusing on medical and psychosocial assessments, in line with amendments to the Drug Dependants Act 1983 that prioritise rehabilitation over punishment. The Cabinet has approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025–2027 to promote behavioural change, accurate messaging and cross-sector cooperation, alongside the launch of District Community Synergy Committees (JSKD) to strengthen grassroots coordination. Shamsul urged NGOs to embrace digital tools for youth outreach, stressing that drug prevention requires the shared commitment of agencies, families, educators and the wider community. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
19-05-2025
- The Star
Zahid: Drug abuse at alarming levels
Public safety, economic stability and M'sia's social structure on the line PUTRAJAYA: Drug abuse in Malaysia has reached a critical level and now poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and the country's social structure, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( pic ). The Deputy Prime Minister said there were 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, with 61% of them aged between 15 and 39, as of 2024. 'Of this number, 96% are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,' he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse yesterday, Bernama reported. Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 people, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965) and Kedah (898). To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the committee had approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025-2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach. Ahmad Zahid said the plan focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies – towards a national anti-drug movement. To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency has adopted a Single Point Entry approach to expedite screening and intervention for detainees without waiting for pathology results. 'As of April 5, a total of 261 detainees had undergone evaluation at the DAC in Kuala Muda, Kedah,' he said. Ahmad Zahid also highlighted new concerns involving mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, based on findings by the National Poison Centre. 'These substances pose a serious risk to children and youth, and require immediate and more aggressive enforcement action,' he said. Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will utilise the Crime Data Network Analysis system to better track drug- related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies. He stressed that the government remains firm in implementing the National Drug Policy, which covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement. 'The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility that requires active involvement from all levels of society – including the public and civil society groups. 'To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation's number one enemy,' he added.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Drug abuse at alarming levels, poses threat to nation
PUTRAJAYA: Drug abuse in Malaysia has reached a critical level and now poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and the country's social structure, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid. Citing the latest data, he said there are 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, with 61 per cent of them aged between 15 and 39 as of 2024. "Of this number, 96 per cent are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity," he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse today. Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965), and Kedah (898). To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the committee today approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025–2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach. He said the plan focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness, and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies — towards a national anti-drug movement. To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has adopted a Single Point Entry approach to expedite screening and intervention for detainees without waiting for pathology results. "As of April 5, a total of 261 detainees had undergone evaluation at the DAC in Kuala Muda, Kedah," he said. He also highlighted new concerns involving mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, based on findings by the National Poison Centre. "These substances pose a serious risk to children and youth and require immediate and more aggressive enforcement action," he said. Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will utilise the Crime Data Network Analysis system to better track drug-related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies. He said that the government remains firm in implementing the National Drug Policy, which covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement. "The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility that requires active involvement from all levels of society — including the public and civil society groups.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Drug abuse at alarming levels, poses threat to nation
PUTRAJAYA: Drug abuse in Malaysia has reached a critical level and now poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and the country's social structure, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid Citing the latest data, he said there are 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, with 61 per cent of them aged between 15 and 39 as of 2024. 'Of this number, 96 per cent are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,' he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse today. Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965), and Kedah (898). To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the committee today approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025–2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach. He said the plan focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness, and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies — towards a national anti-drug movement. To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has adopted a Single Point Entry approach to expedite screening and intervention for detainees without waiting for pathology results. 'As of April 5, a total of 261 detainees had undergone evaluation at the DAC in Kuala Muda, Kedah,' he said. He also highlighted new concerns involving mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, based on findings by the National Poison Centre. 'These substances pose a serious risk to children and youth and require immediate and more aggressive enforcement action,' he said. Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will utilise the Crime Data Network Analysis system to better track drug-related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies. He stressed that the government remains firm in implementing the National Drug Policy, which covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement. 'The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility that requires active involvement from all levels of society — including the public and civil society groups. 'To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation's number one enemy,' he added.
The Star
19-05-2025
- The Star
Govt launches multi-agency plan to fight 'critical level' drug abuse
PUTRAJAYA: Drug abuse has reached a critical level and now poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and the country's social structure, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) . To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse has approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025-2027, which takes a comprehensive and targeted approach. The Deputy Prime Minister said there were 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country as of last year, with 61% aged 15 to 39. "Of this number, 96% are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,' he said in a statement after chairing the committee meeting here on Monday (May 19). ALSO READ: Home Minister flags alarming rise in drug-related offences in Kelantan Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965), and Kedah (898). He said the communication plan approved today focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness, and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies towards a national anti-drug movement. To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has adopted a single-point entry approach to expedite screening and intervention for detainees without waiting for pathology results. ALSO READ: Sharp rise in drug use among local youth, says AADK chief "As of April 5, a total of 261 detainees had undergone evaluation at the DAC in Kuala Muda, Kedah,' he said. He also highlighted new concerns involving mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, based on findings by the National Poison Centre. "These substances pose a serious risk to children and youth and require immediate and more aggressive enforcement action,' he said. Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will use the Crime Data Network Analysis system to track drug-related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies. ALSO READ: Hajiji calls for concerted response as Sabah's drug addiction cases climb He stressed that the government remains firm in implementing the National Drug Policy, which covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement. "The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility that requires active involvement from all levels of society, including the public and civil society groups. "To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation's number one enemy,' he added. – Bernama
