Future challenges in drug control will arise due to 'trend in many countries' to legalise drugs: PM Lee

SINGAPORE: Singapore will face future challenges in drug control due to the "trend" of legalising medication for leisure use and the publicity to social media the place such abuse could also be glamourised. "We will face challenges in future because first, the trend in many countries is to legalise drugs, in particular, cannabis, for recreational use", stated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (Dec 7). Speaking at Central Narcotics Bureau's (CNB) fiftieth anniversary occasion, Mr Lee stated many of those nations have been unable to control their home drug scenario.This has led to the legalisation of medicine to regain "some control" over the scenario, with some nations additionally being "lured" by the financial advantages of regulating the leisure use of medicine.But issues can go "awry" regardless of finest intentions to advocate for a "harm-reduction approach" to medication, added Mr Lee.He illustrated his level with Singapore's personal case examine from the early 2000s."In 2002, Subutex was introduced as a legal prescription for treating opioid addiction. But some people started abusing Subutex as an alternative to heroin, injecting themselves to get a 'high'. Within a few years, the number of Subutex abusers and Subutex-associated deaths increased significantly," he stated."We decided to put a stop to this. In 2006, Singapore listed Subutex as a controlled drug, and CNB mounted swift operations to wipe out Subutex from our streets."

"GLAMOURISED" DRUG USE

Another concern stems from youths' frequent publicity to different existence on social media, stated Mr Lee. "Drug use may be glamourised, giving the impression that using drugs is harmless, or even cool."Based on annual surveys performed by the National Council Against Drug Abuse, the attitudes of youths in the direction of medication are step by step changing into "more liberal", he added. "This is a very worrying trend. We must push hard against it, to prevent our children and grandchildren from becoming the next generations of drug abusers."

TOUGH LAWS, ROBUST ENFORCEMENT

To fight these future challenges, Mr Lee highlighted three of CNB's key methods.  First, the "tough anti-drug laws" which CNB enforces strictly in opposition to drug traffickers and abusers. In 1973, the Misuse of Drugs Act was launched, setting harsher penalties for drug pushers and traffickers, and permitting the detention of drug addicts for therapy and rehabilitation. But the "pivotal change" got here in 1975 when Singapore launched the demise penalty for "the most serious drug offences", in specific for trafficking greater than 15g of diamorphine, or pure heroin, stated Mr Lee. Soon after, the "deterrent effect" of this harsh penalty was felt. Drug traffickers grew to become "much less willing" to convey medication into Singapore. Drug abusers "desperate to obtain drugs" had to go to Johor to purchase and smuggle medication into the nation in small portions. At the identical time, CNB stepped up its enforcement actions, added Mr Lee. Just final month, CNB performed an island-wide operation, arresting 50 suspected drug abusers and seizing greater than S$20,000 value of medicine. "Nowadays, drug traffickers and abusers use e-commerce services and encrypted messaging apps, like Telegram. CNB will need to continue using technology to the full, to tackle new threats and drug supply methods," stated Mr Lee."Tough laws and robust enforcement provide a strong deterrent that helps keep the number of drug abusers in Singapore low."

RIGOROUS REHABILITATION REGIME 

The second key technique employed by CNB is a "rigorous rehabilitation regime" for drug abusers, added Mr Lee. To guarantee former drug abusers keep off medication, they're positioned on a supervision scheme after being launched from drug rehabilitation centres or prisons. Over the years, CNB reviewed its supervision regime to place larger emphasis on efficient rehabilitation, stated Mr Lee.This included rising the utmost supervision interval from two years to 5, making counselling obligatory for younger drug abusers and their dad and mom, and permitting first-time low-risk drug abusers to proceed with research or work as an alternative of being despatched to a drug rehabilitation centre."These initiatives help drug abusers break the cycle of addiction and better reintegrate into society," stated Mr Lee.He additionally shared a narrative of a former drug abuser, who had abused hashish since he was 15 years outdated. With the assistance of a CNB officer, the boy went on to full his research and is now a physician. 

"COMPREHENSIVE" PUBLIC EDUCATION, COMMUNITY-LED ADVOCACY

The third key technique is "a comprehensive and sustained public education programme" alerting folks to the hazards of drug abuse, stated Mr Lee. "Public education is an equally important part in this war, if not the most crucial part. Through effective public education, we can stem drug abuse upstream before it causes more troublesome social problems." But CNB can't win the conflict on medication alone, added Mr Lee. Public schooling entails working carefully with different businesses, together with the Ministry of Education, faculties and many non-government organisations. Together, they organise a variety of actions, together with faculty talks, exhibitions and even video-making competitions.They additionally produce well-designed collaterals and media merchandise, together with an Augmented Reality Mobile App for major faculty youngsters.CNB additionally employs "community-led advocacy" in their drug schooling programme, stated Mr Lee. This consists of establishing shut partnerships with neighborhood companions to lead the annual Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign, co-organise seminars and conferences, and work with youth volunteers to positively affect their friends.

SINGAPORE TODAY "RELATIVELY DRUG-FREE"

"Our situation is under better control than most other countries. The number of drug abusers arrested annually in Singapore has fallen to about half that in the mid-1990s," stated Mr Lee, who added that Singapore in the present day is "relatively drug-free". "Our drug situation contrasts sharply against countries with more permissive approaches."He highlighted the US opioid disaster, which prompted practically 500,000 folks to die from opioid overdose from 1999 to 2019."Because of our strict anti-drug approach, Singapore has been able to keep our people safe from these problems," he stated."Today, there are no open drug markets and drug ghettos in Singapore. Nor is there a problem of drug overdose deaths."