INHALANT ABUSE (Assessment of problem)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will (i) give an assessment of the inhalant abuse problem in Singapore and (ii) outline some effective actions which are being taken to deal with the problem.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

Sir, the problem of inhalant abuse was first detected in 1979. It has been growing since then from 24 reported cases in 1980 to 1005 in 1985, and 997 cases in 1986. In the first five months of 1987, some 535 inhalant abusers were detected.

The number of first-timers has also been increasing. A study conducted on the inhalant abusers showed that 75.3% were school dropouts and 84.1% were below 20 years old. The largest group was the 15 to 19 years old which accounted for 62.9% of the inhalant abusers.

Inhalant abuse is a destructive habit. A frequent abuser will suffer mental and physical impairment. Since 1980, there have been 20 deaths related to inhalant abuse. The problem therefore has to be tackled.

The Central Narcotics Bureau is the national agency coordinating measures to tackle the inhalant abuse problem. An Inter-Ministry Committee is actively monitoring the situation. I have previously informed Members in this House of the various measures recommended by this Committee.

New legislation to tackle the problem will be introduced at today's sitting. The proposed legislation will have the following features:

(1) It will be an offence to sell or supply volatile inhalants to inhalant abusers.

(2) Suspected inhalant abusers will be subjected to blood tests to confirm their condition.

(3) First-time inhalant abusers will be placed under supervision.

(4) Inhalant abusers who breach the supervision order will be subjected to compulsory treatment and rehabilitation.

(5) Approved centres to be set up with the sole purpose of treating and rehabilitating recalcitrant inhalant abusers. This will be resorted to only when all other efforts to help the abusers fail.

(6) Inhalant abusers admitted for treatment and rehabilitation in an approved centre will be detained for not more than six months and, for subsequent periods, of not more than three months at any one time, subject to a maximum period of one year's detention. They will be placed under supervision after their discharge from the approved centre.

(7) Measures to discourage shopkeepers from selling volatile inhalants to youngsters will also be introduced.

Sir, steps are being taken to provide facilities for the control of the inhalant abuse problem. In the meantime, measures are being taken by the respective agencies, including preventive education, counselling and informal supervision. When the legislation is enacted and the facilities are ready, we should be able to tackle the inhalant abuse problem more effectively.