Authorities are currently reaching out to students in 1,495 primary and secondary schools across the state.
KUCHING: Programmes aimed at preventing school students in Sarawak from becoming involved in vaping, smoking and drug abuse are now being implemented statewide.
The Sarawak Education Department and anti-drug authorities are currently reaching out to students in 1,495 primary and secondary schools across the state.
The educational and preventive initiatives are being jointly coordinated by the Sarawak Education Department and the Malaysian Anti-Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam).
The latest developments were revealed during a one-stop drug prevention meeting involving key agencies in Sarawak, chaired by Women, Community Wellbeing and Family Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah in Kuching yesterday.
The State Education Department presented the latest figures to demonstrate its commitment to addressing issues related to vaping, smoking and drug abuse among students.
Fatimah also disclosed that Kuching has been classified as the state’s top drug hotspot this year and has been designated a drug red zone.
“Kuching has been categorised as a red zone for drug-related problems as it recorded the highest number of drug cases in Sarawak so far this year.
“A total of 2,080 drug cases were recorded in Kuching between January and May, making it the area with the highest number of drug offences.
“Kuching is now a drug red zone,” she said during the meeting.
She added that other major urban centres recording high numbers of drug-related cases are Miri, Sibu and Bintulu.
According to Fatimah, the increase in arrests reflects intensified enforcement operations against drug traffickers and users.
Concerns over the growing drug problem in Sarawak had already been raised by state lawmakers last year.
On May 25, Fatimah’s deputy, Datuk Razi Sitam, warned that Sarawak urgently needs more rehabilitation facilities due to the increasing number of new drug dependants being detected annually.
Razi said Sarawak currently has only one Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre, located in Puncak Borneo near Kuching, which serves the entire state.
Meanwhile, concerns are also mounting over increasing drug abuse among teenagers and young adults in rural areas.
Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang previously warned that his constituency in southern Sarawak has seen an unprecedented rise in drug abuse among young people.
He said individuals aged between 15 and 39 are becoming involved in drugs at an alarming rate.
