REFORMATIVE MEASURES FOR GANJA AND MX PILL USERS

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap Al-Haj asked the Minister for Health what reformative measures are being taken in respect of ganja and MX pill users.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no uniform opinion on the reformative measures for ganja and MX pill users.

These two drugs are not as dangerous as opium, morphine, heroin and other hard drugs where users find themselves quickly and easily addicted. The effects .are physically and mentally destructive.

Any drug, including ganja and MX pills, is bad. Although these two drugs may not create the same physical dependence as morphine or heroin, they create a psychological dependence. This occurs in persons with inadequate personalities, making them excessively reliant on other people, or dependent on the drugs. The taking of ganja and MX pills can lead to the taking of the more dangerous drugs.

Ganja smoking has a longer history. Not much medical research has gone into it. Those that have come to our attention have been those who have been arrested or are in custody. For those persons in prison, an attempt is made to get them to rid themselves of the need to fall back on smoking ganja. So far we have admitted 17 ganja addicts to the St. John's Island treatment centre. For the ganja addict, treatment is relatively simple. At St. John's Island they are encouraged to participate in healthy activities and to convince them that they need no ganja. `They participate in gardening, tailoring, carpentry and fish rearing.

The problem of MX pill takers is relatively new. Very little is known about the long-term effects of this drug. MX is the pharmaceutical preparation under the trade name of "Mandrax" which is a preparation of methaqualone, which is a mild hypnotic combined with an antihistamine. It is curious why it has been pushed by drug pedals, and why it has been so readily accepted by some persons. It is not a "mind bending" drug, such as L.S.D., nor a stimulant, such as the pep pills. It may be taken out of curiosity or because it has got a potentiating effect not known pharmaceutically. Whatever the reason, its use without a doctor's control causes concern.

The few cases that have been brought to the attention of the clinicians have been cases of over-dosage. The treatment has been to wash out the stomach. About a dozen patients are known to have been treated in this way.

Since prevention is better than cure, the Medical Department has been disseminating knowledge on the dangers of these drugs to various groups of people who deal with young persons. Lectures were given this year to the Samaritans, psychiatric nurses, customs officers, school health doctors and officers of the Singapore Command and Staff College, and to school students and other groups of younger people.

A special clinic has been formed in one of the Medical departments in the Outram Road General Hospital where ganja smokers and persons on MX pills and others are treated and counselled. The follow-up is undertaken by doctors, almoners and other voluntary staff. Arrangements have also been made with the Chinese Y.M.C.A, to undertake the rehabilitation of some of these persons through group activities.