The reported increase in drug abuse cases involving children as young as 10 to 14 has raised serious concern, with the trend described as a warning that requires immediate attention from families, schools, communities and authorities.
Chairman of the Ikatan Komuniti Selamat, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said the issue should no longer be viewed as a problem affecting only adults or young people, as early exposure to drugs could have long-term consequences for children, families and society.
“Statistics reported in several states should prompt us to ask a basic question — how can children at such a young age gain access to drugs?
“There is no single factor that can be blamed. Drug abuse among children can be influenced by family circumstances, peer pressure, unhealthy environments, curiosity, emotional problems and the influence of older individuals or groups,” he told Sinar Harian on Sunday.
Lee stressed that parents have an important role to play, particularly in keeping track of their children’s friendships, activities and whereabouts, including what they do online and outside the home. Parents should also remain alert to changes in their children’s behaviour, emotions and social circles.
However, he said families should not be blamed entirely, as some parents require additional support, particularly those working long hours or dealing with financial, family and emotional pressures. Prevention, he added, must therefore involve parents, schools, communities, enforcement agencies and the Government.
Peer influence is another factor that should not be underestimated, Lee said, as children in the early teenage years can be particularly vulnerable to pressure from friends or older individuals to experiment with drugs.
He called for positive peer influence to be strengthened by involving young people as role models and agents of change who can encourage their peers to adopt healthy, drug-free lifestyles.
Schools, meanwhile, should strengthen prevention and early detection efforts, with teachers and counsellors equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to recognise warning signs before experimentation develops into addiction.
Lee said anti-drug education should also go beyond simply telling children that drugs are dangerous. They should be taught how to resist peer pressure, make responsible decisions and seek help when facing difficulties.
He urged the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Royal Malaysia Police, schools, health authorities and community organisations to intensify prevention programmes in areas where cases involving children are increasing.
Early intervention, he said, was far more effective than waiting until a child developed an addiction and required rehabilitation.
At the same time, Lee stressed the need to investigate how drugs were reaching children in the first place. If children as young as 10 or 12 could obtain drugs, authorities should determine who was supplying them and whether criminal networks were deliberately targeting vulnerable minors.
“The approach must be two-pronged — protecting children from those who exploit them while building resilience among children themselves,” he said.
Lee said Malaysia needed an all-of-society approach to tackle drug abuse among children, including stronger parental involvement, school prevention programmes, counselling and mental health support, positive peer initiatives, community monitoring and tougher action against those supplying drugs to minors.
“Children aged 10 to 14 should be thinking about education, friendship, family and their dreams for the future, not drugs.
“We must act early because prevention at the age of 10 is far more effective than waiting until someone reaches 20 before attempting rehabilitation.
“The future of our children cannot be left to chance. Every child we save from drug abuse means we have saved a life, a family and a future,” he said.
