NGO CALLS FOR INTENSIFIED EFFORTS TO CURB SYNTHETIC DRUG ABUSE AMONG STUDENTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- The Alliance for a Safe Community has called for intensified national efforts to curb drug abuse among school-going youths amid fresh warnings over the growing threat of synthetic substances.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, called for stronger enforcement through enhanced cyber-monitoring, tighter cross-border intelligence cooperation, and heavier penalties against suppliers who target minors.

He described the trend as deeply alarming and must be addressed with seriousness and urgency, as it signals an evolving drug threat increasingly targeting young people.

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“Synthetic drugs are often more potent, unpredictable, and difficult to detect than traditional substances. Their discreet forms and modern methods of distribution, including digital platforms, make enforcement more challenging and place students at greater risk,” Lee said in a statement today.

He cautioned that failure to address the trend could lead to serious long-term consequences such as mental health deterioration, increased involvement in crime, and the erosion of the nation’s future human capital.

To strengthen the national response, he proposed five key measures, including reinforcing prevention programmes in schools through structured anti-drug education, trained counsellors, and peer-support initiatives.

The alliance also recommended tighter regulation of high-risk products that could be misused for drug consumption, as well as conducting random testing of suspicious products in the market.

“Drug abuse among students is not merely a law-enforcement issue. It is a public health, social, and national development concern requiring coordinated and sustained action,” he said.

Lee also highlighted the need to expand youth-focused rehabilitation programmes, including adolescent-friendly treatment centres, family-based support systems, and education continuity schemes.

The “whole-of-society approach” involving parents, schools, communities, and social institutions is essential, he said.

“The warning from AADK should serve as a national wake-up call for immediate and decisive intervention. Protecting our children from the scourge of drugs is a shared responsibility and must remain a top national priority for the sake of our country’s future,” he said.

Yesterday, media reports citing the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) data revealed that 54,791 children in primary and secondary schools were detected for synthetic drug abuse and addiction in 2020.

The number went up by 73 per cent to 94,793 individuals in 2024. From January to September 2025, 76,660 youths were recorded as being involved in synthetic drug use.

-- BERNAMA