KUALA LUMPUR: The National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) says it can help police tackle drug abuse within its ranks.
Its newly appointed director-general, Datuk Ruslin Jusoh, said the agency's seven-step Drug-Free Workplace (Tekad) programme could be introduced to the force.
This follows a New Straits Times report that 50 officers and 581 policemen of other ranks had been disciplined for drug use over the past decade.
Most of them were sacked.
The stress of police work and the constant proximity to drugs and drug pushers is said to be too much of a pull for some, and in the past decade, 505 policemen have lost their jobs due to drug addiction.
"Nada implements Tekad, which targets both private and public sector employees and employers.
"The programme, conducted in workplaces, aligns with the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention," he told the NST recently.
Ruslin said the programme consisted of seven key steps, including obtaining a commitment from top management for its implementation, establishing relationships and proposing the creation of an anti-drug committee or anti-drug policy.
This proposal involves developing initial policy processes, identifying objectives, determining policy content and executing and enforcing the policy.
The agency, said Ruslin, would also run education and awareness programmes for employees, provide training for supervisors, execute drug prevention initiatives in the community, develop intervention and referral support services and facilitate reintegration into the workplace.
Educational and awareness programmes will include relapse prevention seminars, parenting skills training and workshops on stress, anger and financial management.
Supervisor training will involve organising drug prevention seminars, risk management training, self-urine testing and early intervention skills.
Community drug prevention initiatives will include sponsoring anti-drug programmes, distributing anti-drug information, participating in recreational sports with other companies and hosting events such as annual dinners and family days.
Development of intervention and referral support services will focus on providing community-based rehabilitation services, support centres from Nada and private rehabilitation centres.
The last step is to facilitate reintegration into the workplace. This aims to support employees' return to the company with systems in place, ensuring a stigma-free environment and offering employment opportunities to selected former addicts.
"The issues and problems of drug abuse and addiction in the workplace need to be a priority for employers, as these issues can significantly affect the safety and health of employees.
"Substance abuse, including that of alcohol, in the workplace can not only lead to loss of life, injuries and property damage, but also undermines the image and reputation of the organisation, while posing a threat to customer safety," said Ruslin.
To date, he said, Nada had established two institutional treatment and rehabilitation programmes at 30 drug addiction rehabilitation centres, and community treatment and rehabilitation programmes at 108 Nada district offices and community treatment and rehabilitation centres across the country.