KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 3,422 drug and substance abuse cases in the first quarter of 2024 which was an increase compared to the previous year of 2023.
In stating this, Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Faimah Abdullah expressed her concern over the figure and stated that immediate action was required from all relevant authorities to deal with them.
“We cannot afford to remain passive — instead, we must take proactive and aggressive measures to tackle this issue. We need to take early and continuous steps to deal with this issue.
“Moreover, of the said number, 77 percent are youth aged between 20 and 39 years old. This shows that the youth are the most affected group in such cases. As the future backbone of the country, we cannot allow our youth to be ensnared by this destructive situation,” she said.
She revealed this during the officiating of the Anti-Drug Commemoration Day state-level ceremony at the Kampung Lintang Jetty here on Friday.
Citing a 2021 research study by Yong Kang Cheah and colleagues titled ‘Mental Health and Risk Behaviour among Secondary School Students: A Study on Ethnic Minorities in Malaysia’, Fatimah pointed out that there was a connection between drug and substance abuse issues and mental health conditions.
“Research reported that Bumiputera teenagers in Sarawak with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation were more likely to smoke, drink, and use illicit drugs compared to their peers without any mental health disorders.
“My ministry is committed to eradicating the stigma associated with psychological distress and ensuring that individuals who need help for various mental health conditions receive appropriate remedies,” she added.
Following this, she outlined three main strategies to combat drug and substance abuse in Sarawak.
“First, is to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs among the community. Secondly, to encourage young people to be proactive and innovative in various fields, and thirdly, is by engaging in beneficial activities during leisure,” she concluded.
