Skip to main content

New! You can personalise your feed. Try it now

Advertisement

Advertisement

Bill proposes ‘calibrated’ approach where first-time drug abusers who don’t commit other crimes could avoid DRC regime

SINGAPORE — Under a Bill introduced on Monday (Nov 19), the rehabilitation regime for adult drug abusers will be calibrated to “distinguish between abusers who only consume drugs and those who concurrently commit other offences of harm to society”.

Bill proposes ‘calibrated’ approach where first-time drug abusers who don’t commit other crimes could avoid DRC regime
Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — Under a Bill introduced on Monday (Nov 19), the rehabilitation regime for adult drug abusers will be calibrated to “distinguish between abusers who only consume drugs and those who concurrently commit other offences of harm to society”.

The proposal by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is part of a slew of changes which also seek to strengthen Singapore’s anti-drugs framework and enforcement powers.

Currently, drug abusers who only consume drugs and are arrested for the first and second time undergo rehabilitation in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC). Those who are arrested for the third time and more are subject to long-term imprisonment.

Under the proposed amendments, first-time abusers who do not face other concurrent criminal charges, and are assessed by CNB to be of low-risk of further abuse, will be put on the non-custodial Enhanced Direct Supervision Order (EDSO) for up to five years.

On top of monitoring by CNB, abusers issued the order will be assigned a case manager who will provide support to them and their families.

First-time abusers assessed to be of moderate or high-risk of further abuse, as well as second-time and subsequent abusers will go through the DRC regime.

The maximum period of detention in the DRC will be increased from three years to four years, in order to cater to high-risk repeat drug abusers. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

WHAT THEY SAY

"The enhanced rehabilitation regime, targeted at abusers who do not face other concurrent charges, will help them break the cycle of addiction more effectively and reintegrate into society sooner," said MHA. "However, drug abusers who commit other criminal offences and harm society will continue to be dealt with very strictly.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Abusers in the DRC will first undergo mandatory rehabilitation programmes such as psychology-based correctional programmes, family programmes and skills training.

• Upon completion, they will then be put on a community-based programme, where they can be placed in a halfway house, on day release from the DRC, or at home with electronic-tagging.

• Next, they will go through the supervision phase, where they are required to report regularly to CNB for urine or hair testing.

• The maximum duration of supervision will be increased from two to five years under the proposed changes.

OTHER KEY PROPOSED CHANGES

• It will be an offence for an adult if they, knowing that a child (below 16 years old) is likely to be present in a place, recklessly leave drugs or drug utensils within easy access.

• It will also be an offence for an adult who permits or does not take reasonable steps to prevent a person below 21 years old from consuming controlled drugs within their possession.

• “Acts of contamination” which facilitate or promote drug use will be criminalised. This includes actively introducing a drug trafficker to another person, knowing the trafficker is likely to supply him with drugs.

• Powers to be given to the authorities to subject an abuser to mandatory rehabilitation or supervision based on the positive result of a hair analysis.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.