I was sad to note that the United Nations is advocating a more liberal approach towards drugs ("Singapore will not soften stand on drugs: Shanmugam"; April 22, and "UN reviews war on drugs amid push for more liberal laws"; April 21).

Singapore has always stood its ground in the face of pressure and upheld its strict laws to keep the country drug-free.

This must continue.

I am a strong advocate of a drug-free Singapore. I grew up in the 1970s and saw the damage that drug abuse caused many families and the trauma they went through.

We have come a long way in our fight against drugs.

Our firm zero-tolerance stance and comprehensive approach to tackling drugs have worked well for us. We have kept our streets and our children free from drugs.

This is an ongoing fight, and we cannot afford to be complacent.

Our families, communities and the rest of society must take a strong stand to combat drugs at all costs.

We must ensure that parents, teachers and everyone else send a strong message that drugs are wrong, drugs are illegal and drugs can kill.

The fight against drugs must, in the end, be a citizens' campaign because every citizen has a direct stake in the outcome.

We have, thus far, managed to keep Singapore's drug situation under control.

We must do more if we are to continue protecting our loved ones from drugs. Everyone has a part to play in this effort.

Let us continue with our good work.

V. Balu