KUCHING: The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) is committed to combating drug addiction in the state.
It will do this by holding more drug prevention programmes in collaboration with the state government agency and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Its director, Iskandar Turkee said in Kuching, the agency had identified Matang as one of the areas that should be turned into green areas. (A green area is free of drug abuse cases).
“Therefore, we will be holding more engagements with the relevant agencies in the state so that we can turn Matang into a greener area. We want to help the addicts by giving them treatment.
“We will help them holistically and if they need help in getting jobs, we will work together with the state government,” he said.
Iskandar said this when met by reporters after the closing ceremony of the “Let’s Talk With Wanita” PEMADAM programme at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak today.
Earlier on, the vice chairman of Malaysian Drug Prevention Association Sarawak (Pemadam) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Syeed Aman Ghazali urged related agencies and non-governmental orgnisations (NGOs) to intensify drug awareness programmes in the state.
“The programmes can be done by focusing on high-risk areas throughout the states. Drug addicts need our help as they are not criminals but patients who need to be treated,” she said.
She added that such programmes were not only for the youth but also for the parents so that they could help to eliminate drug problems in the society.
