Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Wikipedia

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that the problem of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) addiction is now being discussed seriously at the Cabinet level. She shared that the government is working closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to stop the online sale of these dangerous drugs.

She explained that many primary school children are starting to get involved with ATS. Some of them buy the drugs online through apps like WhatsApp and other digital platforms.

“I ask all parents to watch their children’s smartphone use. We cannot let them use their phones without any supervision,” she said during her visit to the Kota Baru Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) today.

She added that the ministry will keep helping young people who are involved in drug abuse to get treatment at Puspen. She also urged parents to contact Puspen immediately if they see any sudden changes in their children’s behaviour.

According to the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) 2024 statistics, there are 117,000 people aged between 15 and 39 who are involved in drug and substance abuse, and Kelantan has the highest number of cases.

During her visit, Hannah spoke to some of the clients at Puspen Kota Baru. She shared that most of them are still very young, some only 17 or 21 years old, and some started using drugs while they were still in primary school.

“This trend is very worrying. But I am happy to hear directly from them that the treatment here has helped them recover and start their lives again,” she said.
She also met with the parents of the clients and urged everyone to be open to seeking early help before the addiction becomes worse.

Hannah noted that Puspen’s drug rehabilitation success rate is now 79 per cent. However, she said the biggest challenge is to ensure that those who recover do not go back to their old groups and habits.

“It is very important that they do not connect again with their old friends who use drugs. Even if they have been using drugs for more than 10 years, with awareness and support, they can fully recover,” she said. She added that young people can come to the rehab centres voluntarily if they need help.

Hannah also shared that the ministry is working with AADK to create more awareness about drug abuse through many platforms. This includes showing awareness videos at big cinemas like TGV.

“We want young people to know that they are not alone. There is help and support available for them,” she said.