KUALA LUMPUR: Data on drug abuse nationwide has revealed a troubling pattern in districts toward the north and east coast, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said data gathered by four agencies showed that the Pendang district in Kedah had the highest number of drug abuse cases at 1,333 people per 100,000 residents.
"This is troubling as the national average is 432 people per 100,000 residents.
"The data gathered is the result of mapping carried out by the police, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Health Ministry as well as private narcotic rehabilitation centres," he said at a press conference after launching the 2024 Police Special Dialogue on Thursday.
Saifuddin said after Pendang, several districts in Kelantan and Terengganu, namely Machang, Marang, Dungun, Kemaman and Besut, also exceeded the national average.
"During the cabinet meeting, all agencies involved had discussed the World Drug Report 2023 related to the increasing trend of drug abuse.
"Through the report, the four agencies narrowed down the study and found that the average drug addiction in some districts exceeded the national ideal ratio of 432 addicts per 100,000 population," he said.
Saifuddin said demographic factors such as the level of education, employment and household income are the biggest contributors to the increase in drug abuse in these areas.
"The data we obtained is very granular. It specifies background, race and level of education as well as household income.
"We found that in the districts where most of these cases occur, the population is almost 100 per cent Malay. From that, 56 per cent are either working in the private sector or are unemployed," he said adding that many of the drug abusers only had an SPM-level education.
He said several approaches will be taken to deal with the issue of drug abuse and addiction in the areas.
"This involves activities and programmes through related agencies.
"During these six months, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi will plan several approaches and mobilise the agencies involved.
"Within the following six months, we will evaluate whether the programme was implemented successfully or needs to be improved," he said.
Commenting on today's dialogue, he said the programme, which brought together parties related to drug eradication, including foreign experts, aimed to discuss new and different approaches in dealing with the increasingly complex narcotic crime.