Drug abuse down in Kelantan, but youth still most at risk
KOTA BHARU: Drug abuse in Kelantan fell by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of this year, but youth remain the most vulnerable group, continuing to account for the highest number of cases involving illegal substances.
Kelantan National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) director Supindi Usop said 66 percent of all cases involved individuals aged between 15 and 39, making up the largest group in the state's statistics.
He said this trend is worrying as it involves the younger generation, who should be the nation's future asset.
Supindi said Kelantan recorded 11,280 drug abuse cases as of March, compared to 11,928 cases in the same period last year, placing the state fourth highest in Malaysia.
'A total of 5,787 individuals are undergoing rehabilitation at three centres across the state, with 97 percent of them involved in the abuse of methamphetamine pills (pil kuda),' he told Bernama at the Kelantan-level 2025 National Anti-Drug Day event today.
Even more concerning, 114 teenagers under the age of 18 were found to be involved in drug abuse, with 94 currently undergoing voluntary treatment at the Pengkalan Chepa Rehabilitation Centre and 20 at the centre in Bachok, Supindi revealed.
'We've observed that more parents are becoming aware and are proactively sending their children for voluntary treatment. This is a positive step towards breaking the cycle of early addiction,' he said.
On the factors contributing to the decline, Supindi explained that one key reason was the closure of illegal entry points along the Malaysia-Thailand border since last December, which has helped curb the inflow of drugs.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Youth, Sports, NGOs and Community Unity Committee chairman Zamakhshari Muhamad, who also heads the state chapter of the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), said that despite the drop in numbers, the overall figures remain high and concerning.
'Prevention, enforcement and awareness education must be intensified. We cannot afford to be complacent just because the statistics show a decline,' he emphasised.
He added that Pemadam will organise a six-month strategic workshop starting at the end of this month in Pasir Mas, in collaboration with various enforcement agencies and local communities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Rise of synthetic drugs: Over 60pct of users now hooked on lab-made highs
Synthetic drugs are now dominating Malaysia's drug scene, outpacing "traditional" narcotics, fuelled by easy access, cheap price and powerful highs. Previously, heroin and ganja consistently dominated drug use. However, last year marked a significant shift in this trend. Of the 192,857 people arrested or who voluntarily surrendered, a staggering 60 per cent professed to be hooked on synthetic substances. In an exclusive interview with the New Straits Times, National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said this was evident from the sharp increase in cases involving amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), which have become the most commonly detected substances among users. "In 2024, over 60 per cent of detected drug users were ATS users, compared with around 45 per cent five years ago. "This trend continued into the first quarter of 2025, with ATS remaining the primary drug among new users, particularly youths aged 19 to 39 who make up nearly 70 per cent of all ATS users. "The dominance of synthetic drugs reflects a shift in drug abuse patterns in Malaysia, where traditional drugs like heroin and cannabis are being replaced by synthetic ones that are cheaper, more accessible and have stronger psychological effects," he said. Ruslin said AADK had also detected a trend in the use of synthetic cannabis, such as concentrated THC, cannabis oil and vape products, which were difficult to detect using standard screening methods, making them easier to be consumed discreetly. In both urban and rural settings, he said, some youths were exposed to social pressure and lacked proper supervision from parents or guardians, making them more susceptible to substance abuse. In the first quarter of this year, 76,510 users were found to have abused ATS. Data showed there were 139,909 ATS users in 2024, 104,122 (2023), 93,610 (2022), 79,816 (2021), and 83,698 (2020). Ruslin said in 2024, a total of 1,255 teenagers aged 13 to 18 were recorded as drug and substance abusers. Out of this, 1,003 were using synthetic drugs. Among the most commonly used substances are methamphetamine, "pil kuda", ecstasy and ganja GANJA SEEN AS A 'LESS HARMFUL' DRUG Ruslin noted a worrying trend in how youths now view ganja. He said social media and pop culture have desensitised the seriousness of ganja, with youths now seeing it as less harmful. AADK statistics, he said, indicated that more than 40 per cent of new youth addicts were influenced by peers, with ganja often introduced as a "first try" — driven by curiosity or peer pressure in casual settings such as hangouts, small parties or weekend gatherings. "The belief that ganja is 'less harmful' compared to other drugs further pushes youths to experiment. These activities usually take place without the knowledge of parents or schools." He added that ganja was often associated with modern entertainment culture, making it particularly popular among urban youths. Ruslin said youths, especially students, were indirectly exposed to ganja through social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Telegram. Syndicates operating on these platforms use secret codes, emojis and slang as a "common language" to avoid detection. "Transactions are conducted online and payments are made through e-wallets, making it more difficult for authorities and parents to trace," he said. RISE OF PRE-TEEN ADDICTION Ruslin said teenagers weren't the only ones affected, as AADK had recorded eight drug addicts below the age of 12 since 2021. "Just last year, we received three reports from their parents. These children were then placed under community-based rehabilitation. "For kids like these, we allow them to stay with their families while they undergo the rehabilitation process. "Children as young as 12 require more intensive monitoring by their families, allowing for continuous oversight by both the family and AADK officers in their respective districts," he said. The elderly are also affected. Ruslin said over the past five years, 20,917 drug users aged 60 and above were recorded. "They usually start with traditional drugs, either ganja or heroin. They have taken drugs for an average of 30 years. These are habitual offenders who are trying to get treatment with us. "Some have been in and out of rehabilitation centres, and it's difficult for them to stop, but they are trying," he said. 'MAGIC MUSHROOM' VAPES On another front, authorities are monitoring a recent surge in the online sales of vape products marketed as "magic mushroom-flavoured", which are said to contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin, and touted as a "less harmful" option. Ruslin said AADK, through engagement with the Chemistry Department, had so far found no trace of psilocybin in vape liquids labelled as "magic mushroom". "Chemical analysis of vape samples sent to the Chemistry Department revealed the presence of MDMB-4en-PINACA, from the synthetic cannabinoid class, which is already listed under the First Schedule of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," he said. Laboratory tests on these products showed that they contained dangerous synthetic drugs such as ketamine, phencyclidine and methamphetamine. "The National Poison Centre emphasises that these substances are more dangerous than psilocybin and can cause severe poisoning symptoms, with the potential to be fatal," he said.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
MOTAC intensifies haj and umrah scam awareness campaigns in Malaysia
TUMPAT: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) is ramping up public awareness initiatives to combat haj and umrah scams, ensuring Malaysians are better informed against fraudulent operators. MOTAC secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot emphasised the ministry's role in educating the public, despite haj administration being under Lembaga Tabung Haji's purview. 'Our priority is to prevent scams, especially during peak travel seasons,' he said. Speaking at the Kelantan-level Citrawarna Siam Malaysia Festival 2025 at Wat Machimmaram, Shaharuddin noted recurring fraud cases and stressed the importance of public vigilance. 'Awareness helps people identify legitimate services,' he added. MOTAC has revoked licences of fraudulent companies and suspended others as part of strict enforcement measures. 'We will not tolerate such misconduct,' Shaharuddin affirmed.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Motac continues awareness campaigns to curb haj, umrah scams
TUMPAT: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) will continue to carry out awareness campaigns to prevent the public from falling victim to haj and umrah-related scams. Motac secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said that although haj affairs fall under the jurisdiction of Lembaga Tabung Haji, the ministry works closely with the board to tackle the growing number of fraud cases. "For Motac, our focus is on educating the public so they do not fall for these scams, including those related to umrah. "This issue occurs every year, and public awareness is crucial in helping people distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent operators," he told reporters after officiating the Kelantan-level Citrawarna Siam Malaysia Festival 2025 at Wat Machimmaram here last night. Shaharuddin said Motac has taken stern action against companies found to be involved in such fraudulent activities. "We have revoked the licences of several companies, while some have been suspended. Motac remains committed to strict enforcement to prevent a recurrence of such cases," he said. – BERNAMA
