SANDAKAN: There are an estimated 7,548 drug addicts in Sabah who have not been located and have not received treatment.State Director of the National Anti-Dadah Agency (AADK), Nani bin Sikin, said the estimate was based on current statistics on addiction, where Sabah registered 1,887 “clients” who had been identified and are receiving treatment and recuperating.
“Based on the 2022 Prevalent Drug Addiction survey, for every drug addict or person misusing drug detected by the authorities, there are four more out there,” he said.
He explained that the total figure of 7,548 was derived from 1,887 x 4.
“What is even more worrying is the fact that 66pc of known addicts are in the age group of 19 to 39.
“The group is supposed to be our national assets and future leaders,” he pointed out.
Nani was speaking at the opening of the State-level Training the Trainer of the Anti-Dadah Squad 2/2022 Series held here, Saturday.
“This programme was organised to equip the participants with knowledge of Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation so that they can be of help to drug addicts,” he said.
He added that drug treatment nowadays has become more challenging as it may involve “Dual Diagnosis” whereby the drug addict may also have mental trouble.
“Ninety-nine per cent of drug addicts in Sabah take synthetic substance like Syabu because it is easily available.
“It is a stimulating drug which can cause a person to lose control and have the tendency to become aggressive,” he warned.
He said the prevention of taking this type of drug must be taken seriously because if the number of such drug addicts rise, the number of mental patients will also rise.
“The treatment and rehabilitation of this group is also difficult because of the possibility of the addicts having mental problem,” he explained.
He urged those who just got hooked to drugs to come forward and seek treatment on a voluntary basis.
“The AADK has introduced the ‘Mobile Recovery Treatment’ service to actually go out of the AADK premises,” he stated.
He added that family members and the public can play a role by encouraging addicts to seek treatment with the hope that they can recover.
He said there are 12 areas listed as “High Risk” areas, namely Likas, Inanam, Penampang, Luagan, Patikang, Tuarid Taud, Merotai, Balung and Tanjung Batu as well as Zone 1 to Zone 3 Labuan which need to be turned into a green zone by 2025.
Present were Assiatant Sabah AADK Director, Dayang Siti Rohani Sedan; Assistant District Education Officer, Muhammad Jalil Ahmad; Sandakan AADK chief Aisyah Abdul Karim and Sandakan AADK Squad chief Aiden Martinez.
