Sharp rise in Singapore teens under 16 caught abusing drugs

A new drug test kit that provides nearly instant results is being evaluated by the authorities amid a rise in teen drug abuse here.

- Zaihan Mohamed Yusof and Gladys Wee

"In the first four months of 2024 alone, 16 drug offenders who were under the age of 16 were arrested, compared to 24 such arrests in the whole of 2023," noted Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim at the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Workplan Seminar 2024 on July 10.

"These trends point to the changing attitudes of some of our youth towards drugs," he said in his opening address at the seminar on CNB's anti-drug efforts, noting that among the 600-odd attendees were representatives from the Ministry of Education, anti-drug advocates and volunteers.

Associate Professor Faishal said there have been more cases of youth engaging in drug trafficking and abuse, and that they were getting younger.

He also flagged a wider acceptance of drug use among young people, citing a recent survey where 79 per cent of youth, compared with 91 per cent of adults, agreed that cannabis should remain illegal in Singapore.