Fortnightly drug fix became daily habit: Teen, 15, felt like a zombie

In the first four months of 2024, 16 drug offenders aged below 16 were arrested, compared with 24 such arrests in the whole of 2023. Samuel Devaraj and Gladys Wee find out why this is happening.

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At first, the 15-year-old took methamphetamine once every two weeks after being introduced to it by friends outside of school.

The teen then took it weekly, and later, daily. The Secondary 3 student, whose studies suffered, became lethargic, felt like a zombie and lost weight.

The youth's familial relationships were also strained. What saved the teen was getting caught by the authorities and being sent to a children's home.

Ms Helga Foo, a social worker who works with Trybe, a social service agency that specialises in helping youth facing adversities, now counsels the teen via an aftercare programme.

She said the teen has broken off ties with bad company, and has very clear goals to focus on education and pursue a career in hospitality.

But Ms Foo is worried to see more young people taking drugs.

She said: "These drugs will affect their day-to-day functioning. And as they are at an age where their brain is developing, drugs can have a long-term effect on them.

"But it is not surprising they are taking drugs at a younger age, because social media gives them exposure to drugs and liberal attitudes." In July, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said there have been more cases of youth engaging in drug trafficking and abuse, and they were getting younger.

He said that in the first four months of 2024, 16 drug offenders who were below the age of 16 were arrested, compared with 24 such arrests in the whole of 2023.

Figures from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) annual statistics report showed that there was a near 17 per cent increase in young drug abusers arrested in 2023 compared with the figure in 2022.

Drug abusers below 30 form around 27 per cent of total drug abusers in Singapore.