More drugs to be specifically listed as outlawed

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA), which was amended last year, needs to be upgraded to combat new psychoactive substance (NPS) drugs.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said the current legislation only allows the authorities to combat several types of new drugs which are emerging in the market.
"In Malaysia, we have already traced 20 types of NPS, but we can only take action against seven of them, as they are listed under the Poisons Act 1952," Mohmad said after presenting certificates of appointment to over 200 prefects and class monitors at SMK Chendering here.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), NPS are defined as "substances of abuse, either in a pure form or a preparation, that are not controlled by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, but which may pose a public health threat."
UNODC added the term "new" did not necessarily refer to new inventions as several NPS were first synthesised 40 years ago, but to their recent availability on the market.
Mohmad said NPS was first detected in Europe about three years ago and about 800 types had been identified.
He added that these drugs pose a great challenge to the authorities as they are easy to manufacture using readily-available chemicals, which also enable the drugs to be transported easily without being traced.
"Drug abusers no longer have to hide their crime in abandoned or hidden spaces."
Mohmad said side effects of NPS include seizures to agitation, aggression, acute psychosis as well as potential development of dependence.
He added that it could also stimulate new users to commit more serious crimes.
The Dewan Rakyat passed the amendment to DDA last November to abolish the mandatory death sentence under Section 39B. Courts would have discretion in determining more appropriate penalties against drug offenders.