Designer Drugs More Popular Than Traditional Ones, Says Pemadam

MELAKA, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Specific and tranquil effects could be the reasons for the popularity of designer drugs than the traditional ones among addicts, says the National Association Against Drug Abuse (Pemadam).
Its Vice-President Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar says synthetic drugs like "ICE", "Speed", "Love Drug", Syabu and Ketamin have become more popular, especially among teenage drug addicts, of late.
He said traditional drugs like marijuana, heroin, morphine and cocaine had lost their lustre to the designer drugs whose effects were temporary.
"Designer drugs are becoming popular because they are produced for specific purposes and occasions," he said at the launch of the state-level anti-dadah orientation programme at workplace.
Abdul Rahman, who is also Deputy Human Resources Minister, said drug addiction could lead to serious consequences, especially to occupational safety and health, at the workplace if it was not kept in check.
"Hardcore drug addicts cannot control themselves as they are always high on drugs," he said.
He said the National Anti-Dadah Agency recorded 295,593 drug addicts in the country since 1998 which accounted for 1.1 per cent of the country's population.
From January to June, the agency registered 13,058 addicts, of whom 5,830 were fresh addicts, while the rest were relapse cases, he added.