New drug abusers accounted for 42% of total arrested in 2019: CNB
SINGAPORE — The proportion of new drug abusers remained high while the number of them consuming most drug types rose last year, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said on Thursday (6 February).
A total of 1,469 individuals arrested by CNB in 2019 were new abusers, rising almost 8 per cent from 1,364 in 2018. They accounted for 42 per cent of total drug abusers, with 61 per cent of them under 30 years old.
The majority of the new abusers arrested had used methamphetamine.
These numbers were highlighted by CNB in a media release as areas of concern. Overall, the number of drug abusers rose 2 per cent to 3,524 in 2019.
Methamphetamine was the most commonly abused drug, followed by heroin and new psychoactive substances. A total of 2,204 abusers arrested last year had used methamphetamine while 1,076 of them were new abusers of the drug.
Malays formed the bulk of drug abusers arrested at 1,741 individuals, followed by Chinese abusers at 1,066.
In terms of age, those between 20 and 29 formed the majority of drug abusers.
The drugs seized last year were estimated to have a street value of about $6.52 million, with seizures of methamphetamine increasing by 61 per cent to 31.33kg in 2019.
Regional demand for methamphetamine
Citing data from a 2019 report by a unit of the United Nations, the CNB said Southeast Asia has become the world’s fastest growing methamphetamine market. Across Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific region, the market for the drug is worth between US$30.3 billion and US$61.4 billion annually.
The increase in methamphetamine trafficking activities has coincided with a surge in production of the drug in Myanmar. The market for psychoactive substances has also grown, noted the CNB.
CNB director Ng Ser Song said the increase in methamphetamine supply in the region could have “adverse downstream implications” on Singapore’s drug situation.
“The push for drug liberalisation in some countries is a cause for concern. We must also not underestimate the impact of social media and mass media in spreading misinformation that normalises drug use, especially among our young,” said Ng.
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