DRUG addiction cases nationwide have increased by 27% in the first six months of this year to 118,820 addicts against 93,534 reported in the same period last year.

National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) director-general Sutekno Ahmad Belon said this upward trend is worrying as more than half covered youth and teenagers.

“More than 137,000 drug addicts were recorded last year and 65% of the total number covered youth and teenagers,” he told reporters after the AADK Media Appreciation Ceremony in Kuala Selangor last night.

He said based on the trend of prohibited substance abuse in the last five years, the use of synthetic drugs is seen to be higher than organic ones.

Sutekno also said Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu were among the states that recorded the highest ratio per 100,000 residents involved in the problem of abuse, while Selangor recorded the highest number of addicts.

He said having too much free time without doing any activities was one of the main contributing factors for teenagers and youth dabbling in drugs.

“Because of that, we have launched the Anti-Drug Squad this year to ensure beneficial activities for youth.

“We aim to attract as many as one million members of the Anti-Drug Squad by the middle of next year. So far, we have 120,000 members,” he said.

Apart from that, the agency, through various efforts implemented, also aims for the rate of drug addiction to be below 400 people out of 100,000 residents in the country by 2025, compared with 426 people out of 100,000 residents recorded last year.

Sutekno also advised parents not to hide family members affected by drug addiction and to come to AADK for treatment.

“Prevention is better than cure. It needs to start at home and families should protect their children,” he said. – Bernama, September 21, 2023.