Drug prevention programme still ineffective: DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: Drug abuse prevention programme in the country is still not meeting its objective despite the large amount of allocation channelled to the purpose, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Nonetheless, she did not mention the quantum of allocation devoted to the programme.
"The failure can be seen when many are jailed for drug abuse. When my husband, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was in jail, he saw for himself numerous such prisoners placed near his cell.
"Drugs has become toxic not only to the addicts but also affected their family members and surroundings ... this is what we want to prevent from spreading. According to the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) website, there were 25,922 cases reported last year (2017)," she said.
She was speaking at the launch of Universiti Selangor (Unisel) Open Day and Caring Carnival here today.
Dr Wan Azizah who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister said the people should play their roles by actively organising drug prevention programme as carried out by Unisel to create awareness among the local residents.
"Abuse of drugs is among the main causes of rising crime rates throughout the country and in the case of addicts confirmed positive for HIV or AIDS, family members of the addict faced the risk of being infected by the disease," she said.
Therefore, she said all parties should give attention to the problem of drugs and join drug prevention programmes to ensure the problem is eradicated successfully in future. — Bernama