New taskforce to tackle nagging drug problem among young Singaporeans
Published on Nov 7, 2014 7:48 PM
A new Government taskforce which will be co-chaired by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli (above) and Minister of State for Education Sim Ann will be set up to address the persistent problem of drug abuse among young Singaporeans. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Amir Hussain
SINGAPORE - A new Government taskforce will be set up to address the persistent problem of drug abuse among young Singaporeans.
The taskforce, which will be co-chaired by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli and Minister of State for Education Sim Ann, will consider measures ranging from preventive education to detection, enforcement, counselling and rehabilitation. It will recommend measures and approaches to deal with the drug threat amongst students in schools and post-secondary institutions, full-time National Servicemen and young adults in their 20s.
The taskforce will comprise of representatives from government agencies and community partners, including the Singapore Anti Narcotics Association Sana, Mr Masagos said on Friday. More details will be announced at a later date.
Speaking at an annual dinner organised by Sana to celebrate the contributions of its volunteers, donors and community partners, Mr Masagos said the drug situation remains challenging. Last year, the number of drug abusers arrested continued an upward trend since 2006, registering a 2 per cent increase over 2012. The situation among younger Singaporeans is also of concern. Over the past decade, the number of drug abusers under 20 years old who have been arrested has increased by an average of 7 per cent per annum. Over the same period, the those aged between 20 and 29 years old who were arrested for drug abuse rose by an average of 11 per cent each year.
