By: Ct Ashlida Razali and Nabil Aziz
KLUANG: The collaboration of various parties, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local leaders, and communities, is crucial in reducing the rate of drug addiction cases in this country.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, said this is because they play a part in making sure that social problems—specifically, drug addiction and substance abuse—are addressed in their respective neighbourhoods.
He mentioned that this support is also needed to achieve the National Anti-Drug Agency’s (NADA) target of reducing drug cases to 400 cases per 100,000 population by 2025.
“We hope that cooperation from various parties can be implemented because this responsibility cannot be placed entirely on NADA.
“We are confident that we can reduce drug addiction and abuse cases given the success stories of those who have recovered from drug addiction and abuse with the support of truly committed communities,” he said here on Sunday.
He made the statement after officiating the AADK Santuni Komuniti Program at Kampung Melayu Sports Complex here.
Programs like this one would be extended to additional districts, YB Datuk Seri Dr. Shamsul Anuar added, in an effort to raise community awareness of measures taken to reduce drug addiction cases nationwide.
“The programme is held to bring NADA services closer to the community, helping them become drug-free.
“Furthermore, as part of the program, the neighbourhood is expected to provide children or family members who are struggling with drug addiction or abuse with all the assistance they need to ensure they remain in recovery and actively participate in the community,” he added.
Among the program activities included Omnipresence with the Motorcycle Patrol Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) Kluang District, a Pocket Talk session titled The Role of the Community in Client Recovery, and a lecture titled Madani for The People by the Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM).
NADA also set up drug prevention exhibitions and booths, as well as the NADA Mobile and Recovery Treatment services (NADA MRT), providing information about NADA, including the Anti-Drugs Skuad.
In the same program, NAADA organized a sale of Sokongan Untuk Kepulihan Anda (SUKA) products produced by clients from the Narcotic Addiction Recovery Centers (PUSPEN) in Kota Tinggi and Muar.
Earlier, YB Datuk Seri Dr. Shamsul Anuar also spent time with NADA community clients by participating in a traditional sports event through lawn bowling.
Also present were the Johor State Health and Environment Committee Chairman, YB Tuan Ling Tian Soon; Deputy Secretary General (Security) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman; Secretary of Prisons, Anti-Drugs, and Rela Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Tuan Muhabir Ibrahim; NADA Deputy Director General (Operations), Tuan Khairul Anwar Bachok; Johor State NADA Director, Azli Ubi; and Kluang District Police Chief, ACP Bahrin Mohd Noh.
