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Proportion of new, young drug abusers still high, despite dip in overall numbers

SINGAPORE — While the overall drug situation improved last year with a 5 per cent dip in the total number of drug abusers arrested, it is still a concern as the proportion of new abusers remained high, at 40 per cent of the total nabbed.

Methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”, continued to be the most frequently abused drug in 2017, said the CNB. REUTERS

Methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”, continued to be the most frequently abused drug in 2017, said the CNB. REUTERS

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SINGAPORE — While the overall drug situation improved last year with a 5 per cent dip in the total number of drug abusers arrested, it is still a concern as the proportion of new abusers remained high, at 40 per cent of the total nabbed.

A total of 3,089 drug abusers were arrested last year, down from the 3,265 drug abusers nabbed in 2016, said the Central Narcotics Bureau’s (CNB's) annual report on the drug situation published on Monday (Feb 5). The number of new abusers arrested also decreased by 7 per cent from 1,348 in 2016 to 1,249 last year.

However, approximately 40 per cent of the total number of drug abusers arrested last year were new abusers. This was almost similar to the 2016 figure of 41 per cent.

The report also revealed that among the new drug abusers arrested, there was a decrease across most ethnic groups, except among the Chinese. The number of new Chinese abusers arrested increased by 6 per cent, from 377 in 2016 to 401 in 2017. The number of new Malay abusers arrested went down by 14 per cent, from 729 in 2016 to 630 in 2017. Similarly, new Indian abusers also dipped by 10 per cent, from 189 in 2016 to 171 in 2017.

In addition, among the 1,249 new drug abusers arrested, nearly half of them were between the ages of 20 and 29, and there were 233 youths who were under 20. The two groups made up about two-thirds — 64 per cent — of the total number of new drug abusers arrested last year.

In its annual report, the CNB highlighted the liberal attitudes towards drugs among the youth as a cause for concern. This was reflected in the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) Youth and Public Perception Survey released in April 2017.

According to the survey, 58 per cent of youths said they learnt about drug-related content via social media. It also found that more youths are expressing that they are open to trying drugs as as a new experience if they are overseas, or if drug-taking does not affect their daily routine.

Of all the drug abusers nabbed last year, most were found to be single-drug users. Only 17 per cent of those arrested abused two or more drugs. The number of repeat drug abusers arrested also dipped by 4 per cent, from 1,917 in 2016 to 1,840 in 2017.

Methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”, continued to be the most frequently abused drug last year, with about two in three of those nabbed abusing the drug. It was also the drug of choice for 80 per cent — 1,000 out of the 1,249 — of new abusers arrested.

Notably, there was a 17 per cent increase in seizures of crystalline methamphetamine, from 18.27kg in 2016 to 21.42kg in 2017.

Other than methamphetamine, heroin and cannabis were the next two most commonly abused drugs, with 847 and 204 abusers respectively.

As a large percentage of youths receive drug-related content from social media, the CNB stressed that it has expanded its social media and community outreach efforts to encourage youths to lead a drug-free lifestyle.

For instance, it began a social media series, #SingaporeansAgainstDrugs, last year that featured Singaporeans who took a stand against drug abuse.

According to the CNB annual report, the authorities conducted 19 islandwide operations last year targeting drug traffickers and abusers, as well as 1,661 operations at land, air and sea checkpoints to intercept drugs entering Singapore.

The drugs seized last year were estimated at a street value of about S$6.54 million.

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