S’pore must keep up fight against drugs, especially when social media glamourises drug use

Singapore – “Today, Singapore is relatively drug-free,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, but it can’t afford to be complacent because many countries are legalising drugs while young people are attracted by “glamourised” drugs.

Many countries have legalised or decriminalised drugs, he observed. This means Singapore will face challenges in future.

Mr Lee was speaking on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Central Narcotics Bureau, which was established in 1971 following a wave of “hippie culture” that swept the world. Methaqualone (MX) pills, cannabis, and heroin became readily available, pot parties were rampant pot parties and drug use was common at nightclubs.

“For 50 years, the CNB has led the charge against drugs. It started out with fewer than 20 officers; today, it has more than 800,” he said.

Three tactics have made CNB the public face of the country’s fight against drugs:

Law and enforcement, including the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) enacted in 1973, and the introduction of the death penalty in 1975 for the most serious drug offences.

“The deterrent effect of this harsh penalty was soon felt. Drug traffickers became much less willing to bring drugs into Singapore. Drug abusers, desperate to obtain drugs, were forced to go to Johor to purchase and smuggle into Singapore drugs in small quantities, a practice known as ‘ant trafficking,'” he said.

Another was a rigorous rehabilitation regime for drug abusers, and the third, a comprehensive and sustained public education programme to alert people to the dangers of drug abuse.

“Our situation is under better control than most other countries. The number of drug abusers arrested annually in Singapore has fallen to about half that in the mid-1990s,” noted Mr Lee, adding that Singapore is relatively drug-free.

Future challenges

But Singapore cannot afford to be complacent, as it takes a huge effort to wean society off drugs once it is hooked.

“We will face challenges in future because first, the trend in many countries is to legalise drugs, in particular cannabis, for recreational use,” said Mr Lee.

As such countries have been unable to control the drug situation, they have pivoted to legalising drugs in a bid to regain some control. Some countries have also been lured by the economic benefits of regulating the recreational use of drugs, Mr Lee added.

Furthermore, Singapore’s youth are frequently exposed to alternative lifestyles circulating on social media.

“Drug use may be glamourised, giving the impression that using drugs is harmless or even cool,” said Mr Lee.

He said that annual surveys by the National Council Against Drug Abuse had found that youths’ attitudes towards drugs are gradually becoming more liberal.

He said: “This is a very worrying trend. We must push hard against it, to prevent our children and grandchildren from becoming the next generations of drug abusers.

“Collectively as a nation, we must continue to understand, believe in, and support Singapore’s zero-tolerance approach towards drugs.” /TISG

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