Worrying rise in number of young people, women arrested for drug abuse in 2023: CNB
More than half of the new abusers arrested were below the age of 30. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE
David Sun
Crime Correspondent
UPDATED
FEB 14, 2024, 11:22 PM
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SINGAPORE - More than half of new drug abusers arrested in 2023 were below the age of 30, with figures from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) showing an increase in the use of illegal substances among women and the young.
Official figures released on Feb 14 showed that the number of drug abusers arrested in 2023 was up by 10 per cent to 3,101, compared with 2,826 arrested in 2022.
Of those arrested in 2023, 944 were new drug abusers, an 18 per cent increase from 802 in 2022.
More than half of the new abusers arrested were below the age of 30. Among them were five 14-year-olds, who were the youngest abusers to be arrested.
In a statement, CNB director Sam Tee said: “We are very concerned that drug abuse seems to be starting at a much younger age... We are also seeing more female abusers.”
In total, 454 female drug abusers were arrested in 2023 compared with 408 in 2022.
Among the new abusers in 2023, 182 were female, compared with 171 in 2022.
The number of cannabis users arrested was also the highest in a decade, jumping 17 per cent to 277 in 2023, from 236 in 2022.
Mr Tee said liberal attitudes towards drugs globally have shifted public attitudes in Singapore.
He said: “The global drug situation is worsening. More drugs are being produced and more countries are taking a softer approach towards drug control.
“Lobbying by drug producers and other groups with a similar interest to liberalise the drug regime, through well-funded marketing campaigns, has also shifted public attitudes towards ‘softer’ drugs such as cannabis, and the misperception that these drugs are harmless.”
The 2022 Health and Lifestyle Survey conducted by the Institute of Mental Health found that the mean age of onset of drug abuse in Singapore was 15.9 years, with 41.8 per cent of abusers saying they started taking drugs before the age of 18.
Many had consumed the drugs at home or at their friend’s home.
The National Drug Perception Survey 2023 conducted by the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) found that 23.8 per cent of youth here either thought drug taking was fine as long as it did not harm others, or were ambivalent about it.
While 90.4 per cent of the young people felt drug taking should remain illegal in Singapore, 79.3 per cent of them agreed when asked the same about cannabis.
NCADA chairman Tan Chong Huat said meaningful conversations with young people can make a difference.
He said: “For instance, dedicated conversations about why many young people may think it is all right to legalise cannabis would help make space to identify valid sources of influence and an opportunity to address misinformation.
“Importantly, it is to reconcile differences and create common ground on what matters in their lives.”
Mr Tee said: “Our young people are constantly exposed to liberal drug ideas and misinformation about the harms of drugs.
“Parents should have early conversations with their children about such (issues), and guide them towards leading a healthy, drug-free life.”
CNB said advocacy by pro-cannabis groups, including those with commercial interests, touts cannabis as a natural remedy for a wide array of health conditions to diminish perceptions of its harm and increase its use.
The global shift in public attitudes has led to more countries legalising the use of cannabis, such as Thailand and some states in the United States, it added.
However, the government in Thailand recently announced a rollback of its policy because of widespread cannabis abuse that saw those under 18 being exposed to cannabis and subsequently experimenting with other drugs.
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Seizures in Singapore
CNB seized some $15.37 million worth of drugs in 2023 in Singapore, a slight decrease from the $16.66 million in 2022.Seizures of heroin jumped 21 per cent to 82.87kg in 2023, from 68.22kg in 2022.
Despite the record number of cannabis abusers arrested, seizures of cannabis decreased by 46 per cent to 71.79kg in 2023, from 133.41kg in 2022.
Seizures of crystalline methamphetamine, more commonly known as Ice, also saw a decrease of 10 per cent to 25.47kg in 2023, from 28.15kg in 2022.
CNB said methamphetamine, heroin and cannabis were the three most commonly abused drugs in 2023, with 94 per cent of drug abusers arrested abusing at least one of these drugs.
For new drug abusers, methamphetamine, cannabis and Ecstasy were the three most commonly abused drugs, with 91 per cent of them abusing at least one of these drugs.
CNB said it dismantled 25 drug syndicates in 2023, including those that used the Telegram messaging platform to peddle their wares to young people.
The number of repeat drug abusers arrested in 2023 increased by 7 per cent to 2,157 from 2,024 the year before.
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Separately, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) said, in releasing figures for 2023, that there was an increase in the two-year recidivism rate for the 2021 release cohort.
This was largely due to the increase in the recidivism rate of repeat drug abusers.
SPS said that those with prior drug offences are about three times more likely to reoffend than those without.
Mr Tee said that despite the worrying trends, the drug situation in Singapore remains under control.
He added that preventive drug education is a key component of CNB’s strategy.
“CNB will be relentless in the fight against drugs. We will continue our preventive drug education programmes and our tough enforcement stance,” he said.
“However, we cannot stem the tide alone but need the support of the public, especially parents.”
