KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 8,768 cases involving 8,984 arrests related to drug abuse activities from January to September this year.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah stated that out of the total number of cases, 385 involved offenses of supplying and distributing drugs and substances; 1,388 cases involving 1,669 arrests were for possessing drugs and substances; and 6,995 cases involving 6,065 arrests were those tested positive for drugs.
With the high number of those who tested positive for drugs, she pointed out that the challenge was to improve the treatment and rehabilitation interventions in institutions through court orders or voluntarily so that the addicts could recover and maintain social functionality in the community.
“As of September 2023, we have 196 clients who are receiving treatment and undergoing rehabilitation at the Cure and Care Rehabilitation Centre (CCRC) managed by National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) Sarawak,” she said at a press conference on One-Stop Committee to address drugs and substance abuse issues (OSC MIDS) Sarawak at Baitul Makmur Building II here yesterday.
She said the OSC MIDS Sarawak action plan this year will focus on increasing integrated operations to combat drug and substance abuse activities and also to increase integrated interventions for the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals and families addicted to substances.
“On top of that, OSC MIDS will also increase prevention and advocacy programmes; and strengthen the tactical and logistical requirements for the enforcement of drug and substance abuse activities and treatment, such as drug detection equipment, addiction detection and urine verification,” she said.
