Debate on ministries' budgets: Home Affairs

Laws on new psychoactive substances to be reviewed

Amrin: Drug education will also be improved to tackle changing attitudes towards cannabis

A suspected abuser of new psychoactive substances (NPS) being questioned by the Central Narcotics Bureau's plainclothes officers during an operation last year. NPS was hardly known a decade ago, but has become the third-most commonly abused type of d
SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AMRIN AMIN
A suspected abuser of new psychoactive substances (NPS) being questioned by the Central Narcotics Bureau's plainclothes officers during an operation last year. NPS was hardly known a decade ago, but has become the third-most commonly abused type of d
A suspected abuser of new psychoactive substances (NPS) being questioned by the Central Narcotics Bureau's plainclothes officers during an operation last year. NPS was hardly known a decade ago, but has become the third-most commonly abused type of drug here. ST FILE PHOTO

Singapore will review its laws to deal with the rising threat of new psychoactive substances (NPS).

It will also improve preventive drug education to focus on countering misinformation and address changing attitudes towards cannabis.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin announced the moves yesterday during the debate on the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) budget.

"More than ever, we need strict laws to stay ahead of drug trends, robust enforcement and effective preventive drug education," he said.

Speaking before him, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam noted that while the drug situation in Singapore remained under control, the fight was far from over.

The global drug situation has been worsening, with greater acceptance of drug abuse by other countries, Mr Shanmugam said.

"People are moving towards legalising more... because they've lost the fight," the minister said.

"Whereas in Singapore, almost uniquely, we have managed to hold our own within the country."

Singapore, however, is not immune to the worsening global drug situation. Figures show three in five new drug abusers arrested last year were below age 30.

One in five young people thinks Singapore should legalise cannabis use, an MHA survey found.

The class of drugs known as NPS, which mimics the effects of traditional drugs and was hardly known a decade ago, has become the third-most commonly abused type of drug. Last year, 414 or 11.7 per cent of drug abusers consumed NPS.

From 126 variants of NPS detected globally in 2009, the figure spiked seven times to 892 last year.

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) noted that drug syndicates are concocting NPS at a fast pace, adding that the Misuse of Drugs Act should be agile enough to outlaw new variants of NPS to "add an extra deterrent effect".

Mr Amrin said his ministry has been proactively listing NPS since 2010 and will review the laws to stay ahead of drug trends.

But strict laws and robust enforcement require the "people's backing", he added.

Replying to Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir) and Nominated MP Mohamed Irshad on how Singapore's youth are armed to fend off the drug scourge, Mr Amrin said preventive drug education begins from pre-school.

Drug facts are taught in school through storytelling and activities.

A cartoon activity book for pre-schoolers will be ready next month.

Last year, an Anti-Drug Ambassador Activity booklet was used by over 48,000 primary school pupils.

Similar engagement programmes are available for secondary school and tertiary students.

Information and infographics on drugs and their effects can also be accessed easily on the Central Narcotics Bureau's website.

Various ways of raising drug awareness have also been championed by stakeholders and community groups who are involved with campaigns and roadshows.

"To win community support, a one-way exchange of information will not be enough," Mr Amrin added. "At the heart of what we do is to speak with our people frankly, give them the facts, hear them out and involve them to co-create and deliver."

The authorities will continue to rehabilitate and reintegrate former offenders into society via stronger family support, a network of positive peers to motivate them to stay crime-free and enhanced support for the offenders themselves.

One way is through Direct, which stands for Digitalisation of Inmate Rehabilitation and Corrections Tool. Inmates are empowered to take charge of their rehabilitation with the use of electronic tablets to learn and stay in contact with their loved ones via e-letters.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 03, 2020, with the headline Laws on new psychoactive substances to be reviewed. Subscribe