AN increasing number of young people between the ages of 15 to 39 are getting hooked on drugs in Sarawak.
This is a growing trend that reflects the fact that those in this age group are facing more stress, personal and family issues, and community woes that require a concerted plan to tackle.
Dewan Negara president Datuk Mutang Tagal today said these youth are resorting to drugs at an alarming level.
“In Sarawak, the number of drug addicts is increasing by the year and over the past five years, the number of drug addicts has doubled.
“Last year, 9,645 drug abuse cases were recorded in Sarawak and the biggest number is in the age bracket of 15 to 39.
“The police have also recorded an increase in the number of drug trafficking and drug dealing cases with 10,365 arrests made in last year alone," he said.
Speaking at a function organised by the Kenosis Miri Drug Rehabilitation Centre managed by the Sidang Injil Borneo evangelical group here in Miri, Tagal said there is a need to review how effective the general community has been in dealing with drug woes in Sarawak.
“The drug problems cannot be tackled by police actions alone.
“The root cause of drug abuse is at the household and community levels and the tackling of the drug menace must start there,' he said.
He called on families and community leaders to view the drug menace more seriously and help in giving more time and effort to prevent the drug menace from taking root in their homes and neighbourhoods.
It was reported before that there is an intricate link between crimes in the dark world of drug trafficking, human trafficking, sex trade and drug abuse in Sarawak.
State Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang had said these illicit activities are part of the complicated chain of criminal businesses in this vast state.
“These crimes are seen as lucrative businesses by those crime syndicates operating in the state.
“Drug trafficking that resulted in drug abuse, human trafficking that resulted in prostitution… all these are considered as lucrative by these crime syndicates,” he had said. – The Vibes, April 7, 2024
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