DRUG ABUSE BY YOUNG GIRLS

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DRUG ABUSE BY YOUNG GIRLS: The following Question stood in the name of Ms Indranee Rajah -

7. To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether there has been an increase in the number of young girls using drugs over the past three years and, if so, (b) what measures are being taken to counteract this problem.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua (Marine Parade): Question No. 7, Sir.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker Sir, there has been some increase in the number of females below the age of 20 abusing drugs over the past three years. In 2001, 65 young female drug abusers

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were arrested. The number increased to 83 in 2002 and fell to 70 last year. The number of first-time young female abusers arrested increased slightly from 55 in 2001 to 60 last year. Overall, the number of young drug abusers has declined from 196 in 2001 to 191 last year.

In terms of the types of drug being abused, synthetic drugs were the predominant drugs consumed. Of the 218 young female drug abusers arrested in the last three years, 156 or 72% were arrested for consumption of synthetic drugs.

The problem is under control but we will press on with our efforts to tackle the drug abuse menace resolutely, adopting a multi-pronged approach.

The first prong is preventive education. Potential drug abusers, especially the younger ones, must be steered away from being entrapped by drugs. In recent years, we have enhanced our preventive efforts with respect to synthetic drugs. The dangers of abusing synthetic drugs are constantly publicised, with many of the activities targeted at youths. For example, CNB conducts talks, competitions and other activities such as drama retreats and camps to highlight the harmful effects of synthetic drugs. In addition, the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) and CNB have been organising the annual "Clubs Against Drugs" Campaign, to enlist club operators to promote the anti-drug message to their patrons who are mainly young adults. NCADA also mounted a media campaign against ketamine abuse in March this year, specifically targeting at youths. We will press on with our preventive education efforts. As part of this effort, we will also publicise our strict laws as set out in the Misuse of Drugs Act against the trafficking, manufacture, possession and consumption of synthetic drugs.

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The second prong is enforcement. Synthetic drugs are closely associated with the night entertainment scene which young people are involved in. We have enlisted the help of operators in our fight against drugs. For example, in February this year, CNB conducted a briefing for licensees and operators of nightspots and entertainment outlets to remind them of their social and legal responsibilities to keep their premises free of illicit drug activities. CNB also regularly conducts island-wide operations to round up synthetic drug abusers. The number of raids at various night entertainment outlets has been stepped up .

The third prong is rehabilitation. Rehabilitation of drug abusers will help prevent them from returning to their drug taking habits. Currently, convicted synthetic drug abusers are sent to prisons and do not benefit from the rehabilitative programmes that opiate abusers undergo at the Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRC). We have reviewed this and will be introducing a DRC regime for synthetic drug abusers in lieu of imprisonment. This will offer them a more focused rehabilitation programme which will minimise the chances of them going back to drugs. In addition, the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) Network provides aftercare support services for these abusers after their discharge.

In summary, Sir, we will take this multi-pronged approach and press on with our fight against drug abuse.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo: I would like to ask the Minister to what extent have collaborative efforts been mounted in schools to educate girls and boys on the issue of drugs.

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Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Certainly, Sir, working with schools has been an approach that has been adopted all these years. In fact, a collaborative approach is taken. CNB and Police officers are tasked to go to schools not just to address the drug problem but also the juvenile delinquency problem. Over time, experienced officers go there to reach out to the youths. Certainly, going to schools to talk to students about this problem to deter them is an important approach which we will continue to take.