KOTA BHARU: Primary schoolchildren have become the latest target of drug dealers in the state, said Kelantan National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) director Rohayu Ahmad.
Rohayu said the disturbing trend began in 2015 and there had been an increase in the number of younger children who were being lured and becoming drug addicts.
“Previously, only secondary school students were enticed but for the last three years, we see even nine-year-olds starting to take drugs” she said after opening the ‘Program Amanat Mufti Kepada Orang Kena Pengawasan’ here yesterday.
Also present were the Chairman of the Kota Bharu Drug Rehabilitation Committee (JKPD) Ir Nohaimi Ismail and Hasbullah Ibrahim who represented the Kelantan mufti.
The programme was held to apply Islamic elements and to address unhealthy influences in society for those who attended the programme.
Rohayu, however, did not disclose the number of primary school pupils who were drug users or addicts but advised the group to seek treatment at the Cure and Care Treatment Centre located at Pengkalan Chepa.
She said that among the factors involved in drug intake among primary school children was their desire to try and being unaware of the effects of drug intake and addiction.
Royau said that Kelantan with 8,115 drug addicts was the state with the second highest number after Kedah.
She said that of the total, 111 were female addicts who were mostly “trapped” because they were either influenced by their husbands or boyfriends, or a family member who was also a drug addict.
Meanwhile, she said that Kelantan’s location near the Thai border also affected the drug addiction trend in the state. – Bernama
