SINGAPORE — The number of new drug abusers arrested here in 2023 went up by nearly a fifth compared to 2022, with more than half of them being under 30 years old.

Releasing its annual drug statistics report on Wednesday (Feb 14), the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said that the higher number of young drug users caught was an “area of concern”.

Other worrying developments that CNB flagged were the percentage of new abusers who used methamphetamine as well as the number of cannabis abusers arrested in 2023, which reached a 10-year high.

CNB director Sam Tee said Mr Tee said that while Singapore’s drug situation is under control, there are “worrying trends”.

“We are very concerned that drug abuse seems to be starting at a much younger age.” 

The youngest abusers arrested in Singapore in 2023 were five 14-year-olds, while female drug abusers rose from 408 in 2022 to 454 in 2023.

Female abusers now form 15 per cent of all arrested drug abusers, up from 14 per cent in 2022.

“The global drug situation is worsening. More drugs are being produced, and more countries are taking a softer approach towards drug control,” said Mr Tee.

He noted that the lobbying by drug producers and other groups to “liberalise the drug regime” through “well-funded marketing campaigns” has shifted public attitudes towards “softer” drugs such as cannabis and the misperception that these drugs are harmless.

In Singapore, the 2022 Health and Lifestyle Survey conducted by the Institute of Mental Health found that the mean age of onset of drug abuse was 15.9 years, with 41.8 per cent of abusers saying that they had started taking drugs before the age of 18.

Many consumed the drugs at home or their friend’s home.

Methamphetamine, heroin, and cannabis continue to be the three most commonly abused drugs in Singapore, while methamphetamine, cannabis, and “Ecstasy” were the three most commonly abused drugs among new abusers.

LOCAL ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS

CNB arrested 3,101 drug abusers in 2023, 10 per cent more than the previous year's 2,826.

The 3,101 included:

• 277 cannabis abusers. This is a 10-year-old high and 17 per cent more than the 236 caught in 2022
• 850, or 27 per cent, who were below 30 years old, while 129 were below 20 years old

The number of new abusers arrested increased by 18 per cent from 802 in 2022 to 944 in 2023. 

Of these, 480, or 51 per cent, were aged below 30. In comparison, 50 per cent of new abusers arrested in 2022 were under 30 years old.

The number of new abusers aged under 20 arrested also increased by 13 per cent from 83 in 2022 to 94 in 2023. 

Last year, 19 per cent of new abusers arrested were females. Of these 182 nabbed, 65 per cent, or 118, were below the age of 30.

Among all new abusers caught in 2023, 63 per cent were methamphetamine abusers, compared to 44 per cent in 2022.

Out of the 944 new abusers arrested in 2023, 591 abused methamphetamine, 48 per cent of whom were below the age of 30.

The number of new cannabis abusers arrested also increased by 8 per cent from 168 in 2022 to 182 in 2023.

In 2023, CNB smashed 25 drug syndicates and arrested many traffickers, including syndicates using the Telegram platform.

Additionally, CNB seized drugs with an estimated market value of about S$15.37 million.

MEASURES TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE YOUTHS 

Education is a “key tenet and first line of defence” to equip youths with the correct information to stay away from drugs and empower them to make informed choices and be a positive influence on their loved ones and peers, said CNB. 

Its initiatives include preventive drug education in schools, such as through school publications and radio roadshows. Other efforts include the DrugFreeSG Video Competition 2023 and the inclusion of drug education messages in the school syllabus. 

Outside of schools, CNB also held public events and community outreach programmes and social media campaigns.

Mr Tan Chong Huat, vice-chairman of National Council Against Drug Abuse, said that everyone in Singapore has a collective responsibility to build a drug-free society for Singapore's youth. 

“Meaningful conversations with our young can make a difference,” he said. 

For instance, this can apply to the hot-button issues of legalising cannabis and why some youths may think it is all right to do so. These conversations would help make space to identify valid sources of influence and an opportunity to address misinformation, said Mr Tan.

“Importantly, it is to reconcile differences and create common ground on what matters in their lives.”

CNB's Mr Tee said that it will be “relentless in the fight against drugs” through its preventive drug education programmes and tough enforcement stance.

“However, we cannot stem the tide alone but need the support of the public, especially parents,” he said.

“Our youths are constantly exposed to liberal drug ideas and misinformation about the harms of drugs. Parents should have early conversations with their children about such, and guide them towards leading a healthy, drug-free life.”