Latest news with #DrugFreeYouthCampaign
The Star
6 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Peer pressure and stress fuel drug use among youth, says Yeoh
CURIOSITY, stress and peer influence are among the main reasons why young Malaysian end up with substance abuse issues, says Hannah Yeoh ( pic ). The Youth and Sports Minister was citing the findings of a behavioural study conducted in selected high risk areas by the Malaysian Institute for Youth Research (Iyres) between September 2024 and February this year. 'The findings revealed that among the factors leading respondents to use drugs and illegal substances were curiosity (30.1%), stress (20.9%) and peer influence (18.9%),' she said in a written reply to Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran). While there may have been a slight decrease in the overall number of drug addicts, she noted the number of youths involved with drugs had increased. 'Based on statistics from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), the number of drug and substance abuse cases among youths, aged between 15 and 30 years, had increased over the past two years. 'In 2023, a total of 46,401 youths were identified as being involved. This number rose 19.3% to 55,369 individuals in 2024,' she said. Malay youth represented the largest group, accounting for 76% of the total in both years. 'The number increased from 35,280 individuals (2023) to 42,076 individuals (2024), marking a 19.3% increase,' she added. Indian youth recorded an increase of 1,014 individuals (34.5%), up from 2,937 in 2023 to 3,951 in 2024. 'Chinese youth showed an increase of 446 individuals (19.3%), from 2,312 in 2023 to 2,758 in 2024,' added Yeoh. Indigenous youth from Sabah and Sarawak recorded increases of 8.7% and 8.9%, respectively. Yeoh said that several measures have been implemented to curb the rise in substance abuse, including the launch of the Drug Free Youth Campaign on April 21 together with relevant stakeholders, police, AADK and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. She also said the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes had been urged to adopt improved guidelines to better protect youths against the dangers of substance abuse.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Performance-enhancing drugs are everywhere on social media, says Syarul
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah, a six-time World and Asian bodybuilding champion, is deeply concerned by how easy it is to buy banned performance-enhancing drugs in Malaysia today. Syarul said sales of such drugs online, especially on social media, have become rampant and fears users could seriously harm themselves. He urged the government to take stern action to prevent the issue from getting worse. "There are so many performance enhancing drugs available on social media today, I have even had people offer such drugs to me," said Syarul when met today (May 26). "Sometimes I check the people or accounts who are following me on social media. "I get shocked at times when I check and see that they are actually selling all sorts of these performance-enhancing substances. "Newcomers to the sport might see this as a shortcut and try to use these substances. It can affect their health very seriously and can even cause a heart attack. "These are actually drugs which are meant to be used under strict doctor supervision in hospitals. "In the past, you had to go to the gym and try and talk to people to get such substances but now, everything is done online. "The government has to do something to stop this. I believe the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) can do something about it." Syarul said growth hormones, peptides and anabolic steroids among the performance-enhancing substances commonly sold. Syarul retired from competitive bodybuilding last year and currently coaches the national bodybuilding team. He was speaking after attending the launch of the Drug Free Youth Campaign awareness video in Kuala Lumpur today (May 26) - officiated by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh - in cooperation with TGV Cinemas. TGV Cinemas will from now be screening a short drug awareness video before movies are shown at their cinemas nationwide. This is to create greater awareness regarding the dangers of recreational drug use.
