DRUG USERS SEEKING REHABILITATION ARE GETTING YOUNGER WITH SOME OF THEM ONLY AGED 10 YEARS OLD - DEPUTY HOME MINISTER

Home Ministry: Drug users seeking help getting younger

PUTRAJAYA: Drug users seeking rehabilitation are getting younger with some of them only aged 10 years old, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusof.

The National Anti-Drugs Agency's (AADK) seven 1Malaysia Cure and Care Clinics had recorded 3,817 patients since the service's April launch last year.

Eighty percent of the number was between 15 and 40 years old, who are habitual users while many as young as 10 used inhalants.

Abu Seman described the situations as “scary” as the recorded drug users fell into the “productive age” range.

“The patients unfortunately are getting younger and younger.

“We get patients as young as 14. They should not be placed in Pusat Serenti (drug rehabilitation centres),” he told reporters after presenting service excellence awards to 492 AADK officers on Thursday.

He stressed that the number recorded by the clinics did not take into account the hardcore drug users, who were placed in rehabilitation centres.

He said the clinics were successful in helping more than 50% of patients kick the habit as most of them were “light” drug users.

“Not all who come are heavy drug addicts. Most are just drug users, we can still do intervention. They may not know where to turn to so we provide them with a venue for intervention,” he said.

Abu Seman said while most patients sought help voluntarily, others were bought to the clinics located in Sungai Besi, Kota Baru, Bukit Mertajam, Tampoi, Kuching, Papar and Tampin by their relatives.

He said one clinic located in Chow Kit received no less than 70 patients per day, costing the Government at least RM42,000 per month in operating expenses.

Abu Seman said the clinics would assess the level of the patient's addiction before creating a programme to suit their situation.

“The difference is that we do a medical check-up for them to see what illnesses they have. Usually they come with a variety of illnesses like tuberculosis, hepatitis or HIV.

“The ones that come with severe withdrawal symptoms, we will refer to hospitals for detoxification,” he added.