KUCHING: The local communities are called to join hands with the government agencies to eradicate issues pertaining to drug addiction in efforts to achieve a drug-free generation.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof’s political secretary Irwan Zulkarnain Muhammad Hasbie said that the community could start by helping their family members who have drug addiction.
He added that one of the ways to do so was to refer to the National Anti- Drug Agency (AADK) and hold drug prevention and rehabilitation programmes for the community.
“Not only will such programmes give hope and encouragement to those who are undergoing rehabilitation, but it will also reduce the negative stigma of the community towards them.
“The process of rehabilitation is not easy for these people. That is why I believe that having such programmes will give them the utmost moral support that they need,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the closing ceremony of the Unity Community Programme on behalf of Fadillah at Rumah Komuniti Kuching, Koperasi Nelayan Berhad, Kampung Semariang Batu, here yesterday.
Meanwhile touching on the programme, he said that the programme being held was a platform that could strengthen family ties.
As ‘prevention is better than cure’, Irwan pointed out that as parents, they played an important role in preventing their children from being involved in any negative activities such as drug addiction.
“As parents, we should monitor our children’s movements including who their friends are, where they go, and what they do.
“But for those who have unfortunately become addicted to drugs and are undergoing rehabilitation, they deserve to be given a second chance to prove that the rehabilitation programme that they underwent is really effective.
“By giving them the chance that they deserve, it will further speed up their recovery process as community care is the best therapy for them,” he said.
As such, he called on the community to ponder on the matter and to play their roles respectively.
“Think about what will happen to our young people.
“If drug addiction is not focused on, the country will be destroyed in the future because the new generation that will drive the progress of the country will collapse as they get caught up in this negative activity,” he said.
