The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has urged parents to be more vigilant about items carried by their children following the emergence of water tumblers or bottles with hidden compartments that can be used to conceal prohibited items, including electronic cigarettes (vape).
AADK Prevention Division Director Siti Mariam Mursidan said that although the government’s policy on vape has yet to be finalised, its use among young people, particularly students, must still be curbed early.
She said prevention efforts must begin at home, stressing that drug addiction often starts with smoking habits and vape use among youths.
Siti Mariam also reminded parents not to be overly distracted by gadgets and to maintain open communication with their children in order to better understand their activities and behaviour.
She was speaking after officiating the Terengganu-level Jelajah Aspirasi Bebas Dadah programme in Bandar Al Wathiqu Billah Shah.
Her comments come following viral social media clips showing tumblers designed with hidden compartments that can store items such as vape devices and mobile phones, reportedly used among some school students.
The issue was also highlighted by a social media influencer who claimed such devices had been detected among mischievous students and discovered by a secondary school teacher in the Klang Valley.
Siti Mariam stressed that parental monitoring should not be seen as control, but rather as a necessary step to guide children away from unhealthy habits and drug-related risks.
She added that AADK officers nationwide are actively engaging with students through outreach programmes to prevent them from experimenting with smoking and vaping, which could lead to substance abuse.
