Latest news with #addicts
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Hiding the Homeless Won't Solve the Problem
The White House has promised swift action on homelessness. It aims to dismantle encampments, force addicts and the mentally ill into treatment, and yank federal funds from cities that refuse to police tents and open-air drug use. For residents exasperated by sidewalk squalor, that sounds like overdue toughness. In reality, casting the homeless as nothing more than a public nuisance understates the crisis and diverts money and attention from the broader solutions that are needed.
Observer
24-06-2025
- Observer
Drugs one of dangerous challenges facing modern societies
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is joining nations worldwide in observing the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, held this year under the theme 'Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All.' The occasion aims to intensify awareness campaigns about the dangers of narcotics and psychotropic substances, emphasise addicts' right to rehabilitation, strengthen community cooperation and enhance international collaboration in combating drug abuse. It also serves as an opportunity for nations to review anti-drug policies, assess challenges and develop appropriate solutions. Colonel Said bin Salim al Maawali, Assistant Director-General of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), stated that drugs and psychotropic substances represent one of the most dangerous challenges facing modern societies due to their devastating consequences. He noted that the drug trade is a major funding source for transnational criminal organisations. Global indicators show over 275 million drug addicts worldwide, with the World Health Organization estimating more than 500,000 annual deaths linked to drug abuse — necessitating unified policies, shared expertise, and heightened cultural and educational awareness. Colonel Al Maawali emphasised that international cooperation is vital in combating drug smuggling and trafficking, as criminal networks employ sophisticated cross-border methods. Information exchange, joint policing operations, harmonised legislation and expertise sharing are crucial to dismantling these networks. The ROP's General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control has adopted an integrated approach — supported by police, security, military and civil entities — to counter drug trafficking. Efforts have successfully uncovered international syndicates smuggling narcotics through land, sea and air borders, as well as via social media platforms used to lure youth into drug use. He explained that the departments concerned in Oman provide rehabilitation opportunities for addicts under Article 51 of the Anti-Narcotics Law, which exempts self-referred or family-reported addicts from prosecution. Post-treatment reintegration programmes ensure confidentiality under Article 52, with penalties for breaches. Colonel Al Maawali said that crystal meth poses a significant global threat due to its low cost, ease of production and severe health impacts, including fatal outcomes. Traffickers exploit victims — particularly youth — through financial incentives, blackmail, fake friendships, emotional manipulation, and even virtual reality platforms and celebrity endorsements promoting false cultural narratives about drug use. The Directorate prioritises prevention through social media campaigns, conferences and seminars. Innovative tools like virtual reality (VR) and smart applications are being introduced to enhance public education and counselling services, he pointed out. Colonel Al Maawali stressed families' role in monitoring children and urged community cooperation with security forces to report drug-related activities, encourage treatment-seeking and foster a drug-free society for national stability. - ONA
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Scottish drug deaths soar after SNP opens legalised heroin use room
Drug deaths in Scotland have surged by a third since the SNP's legalised consumption room for heroin addicts opened, prompting warnings it was 'feeding addiction'. Scottish Government figures showed there were 308 drug deaths between January and March, 33 per cent more than in the final three months of last year. They also showed that drug deaths among males rose by 44 per cent over the same period, with Glasgow having by far the highest number of cases. The figures were the first to be published covering the period after the opening of the controversial consumption room in Glasgow in January. The pilot scheme, titled the Thistle Centre, is the first of its type in the UK and accommodates up to 30 drug users. They are allowed to inject heroin under the supervision of clinical staff at the facility 365 days a year between 9am and 9pm. There are areas for injecting, a garden and a 'chill zone' for users. The city's health and council chiefs want to add 'inhalation rooms ' so that people can smoke crack, arguing this would extend the facility's appeal to more drug users. SNP ministers argued that the consumption room would help reduce deaths, because addicts would be supervised by NHS workers and potentially directed into rehabilitation. They suggested more could open across Scotland if it was deemed a success. But it emerged earlier this year that relatively few addicts who had used the centre had been referred for recovery treatment. Scotland is the drugs death capital of Europe, despite Nicola Sturgeon's making it her government's 'national mission' to tackle the scourge in 2021. Annie Wells, the Scottish Tories' shadow drugs minister, said the new figures were 'a source of shame for deluded SNP ministers, whose strategy to tackle drug deaths is clearly failing'. She said: 'Nationalist politicians have been at pains to trumpet the opening of the Thistle in Glasgow as a game-changing solution, yet the number of Scots suspected to have tragically lost their lives to drugs has risen sharply since it opened. 'It is clear that the facility is feeding addiction, rather than helping to treat addiction. The public will be appalled that Neil Gray [the SNP health secretary] thinks more consumption rooms should get the green light while this flagship one is failing people so badly.' 'SNP is failing the most vulnerable' Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman, said: 'This shocking rise in drug deaths shows just how badly the SNP is failing the country's most desperate and vulnerable people. 'The SNP should focus on building proper pathways to rehab so that anyone who wants to quit an addiction has the help they need to do so. Each of these deaths is a tragedy – the SNP must act urgently to prevent the crisis spiralling further out of control.' Suspected drug deaths rose by 76 in the first quarter of this year compared to the final quarter of last year. The police divisions with the greatest number were Greater Glasgow (61), Ayrshire (36) and Lanarkshire (33). But the number of drug deaths in the year to this March fell by 14 per cent to 1,053. The total in the previous 12 months was 1,219. Mr Gray said: 'While these figures show a quarter-on-quarter rise in suspected drug deaths, they also note a year-on-year fall. We want every person experiencing harm to be able to access the support they need. 'We are taking a wide range of evidence-based measures including opening the UK's first safer drug consumption facility pilot, working towards drug-checking facilities and widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone.'
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.
