SIBU: Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye hopes the bill on psychotropic substances will cover three important aspects; namely education and awareness programme, law enforcement and rehabilitation process.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who chaired the Cabinet Committee meeting on Eradication of Drugs on Jan 17, said they agreed with the proposal to table the new bill to help address hallucinogenic substance addiction such as glue sniffing among
youths.
Lee pointed out that educational and awareness programmes on the danger of psychotropic substances should be held at all levels, especially in schools, with the support from all parties including teachers and parents.
“The proposed bill must also have a provision for voluntary surrender of drug addicts by themselves or their family members,” he said in a media statement yesterday.
As for enforcement, the new Act should empower the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) to arrest those who abuse such substances since the present laws do not have such a provision, he added.
In this regard, he said AADK also needs to strengthen its cooperation with relevant enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to address the problem as it can never succeed if it works on its own.
At the same time, the authorities must also take stern action against syndicates which are trying to supply drugs to the hallucinogen addicts as what had been disclosed by the media, Lee highlighted.
“A holistic and effective rehabilitation process must also be put in place to ensure there will be no relapse cases and those who were treated could turn over a new leaf.” Lee said the government’s decision to formulate a bill on psychotropic substances should be welcomed as it is needed to stop various types of addiction including glue sniffing among teenagers.
Addiction problems among youth nowadays are not only limited to common drugs but also easy-to-get hallucinogens such as glue, petrol, aerosol, spray paint, lighter liquid and even cow dung.
Actually, the issue highlighted by the print and electronic media is just the tip of the iceberg as hallucinogen addiction is rampant among the young people, Lee noted.
“I hope that the proposed bill can be tabled in the next Parliamentary session because psychotropic substance addiction has already reached a worrying stage when children and teenagers could be seen sniffing glue in the open,” Lee said.