OVER 12,000 INDIVIDUALS IN TERENGGANU INVOLVED IN DRUG-RELATED CASES LAST YEAR

KUALA NERUS, April 18 (Bernama) -- A total of 12,004 individuals were detected for drug addiction in Terengganu throughout 2024, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

He said that this figure placed Terengganu among the highest-ranked states in the East Coast for drug abuse.

"The districts of Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus recorded the highest number of arrests related to drug addiction and abuse, totalling 2,948 people; followed by Besut with 1,897 individuals and Kemaman with 1,852 individuals," he said.

Shamsul Anuar was speaking to reporters after officiating an Engagement Programme with the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs at the main lecture hall of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin earlier today.

Regarding the types of drugs involved, he cited Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) such as Pil Kuda and methamphetamine (syabu), which accounted for the highest usage in the state at 84.6 per cent, followed by opioid-based drugs at 14 per cent and cannabis at 0.8 per cent.

He said it was worrying that the drug abuse also involved educated individuals with 42.3 per cent of those engaging in drug addiction in Terengganu holding the SPM (Malaysian Certificate of Education) and Malaysian Vocational Education Certificate (SPMV); 0.5 per cent holding the STPM (Malaysian Higher School Certificate); and 0.3 per cent having Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degrees.

Shamsul Anuar said that the government had always treated the issue of drug abuse in the country seriously, leading to the establishment of a committee to combat the problem.

Additionally, he said the amendment to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 in 2024 had further expanded access for drug addicts to receive treatment and rehabilitation for substance abuse and addiction problems.

-- BERNAMA