IN AN effort to fight the drug scourge using a different approach, a non-government organisation (NGO), with the support of the Selangor National Anti-Drugs Agency (Selangor AADK), will be put in charge of running a community centre for various anti-drug-related activities.
According to Selangor AADK director Mahadi Nordin, the centre will provide counselling and be the place where addicts, released on a two-year probation, make their monthly report.
“We are looking for a suitable place. It may even provide temporary shelter and run a job placement service for reformed addicts,” Mahadi said.
The centre will be the first of its kind and already one NGO, Pertubuhan Pendidikan Mencegah Dadah Seri Kembangan, is willing to share the task of running it with help provided by the Hulu Langat district AADK.
Mahadi was speaking at the Majlis Hi-Tea Rakan Anti-Dadah (Rada) held at Dewan Batu 11 in Cheras, where the locals were handed their RADA membership cards and briefed on a member’s responsibilities.
Rada, a project started last year, is similar to Rakan Cop and uses the public to help AADK spread anti-drug information, provide positive influence to stop drug abuse as well as provide information regarding drug activities in their area.
Members will also be invited to all the activities organised by AADK.
Serdang MCA division deputy chairman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee, who helped organise the event, said it was every one’s responsibility to fight drug abuse because it caused suffering to all.
“A study was done on 26,000 addicts and it was found that 55% began taking drugs because of peer influence while 35% took it because they were curious and wanted to have some fun,” Hoh said.
The study also showed that 75% had completed either Form Three or Form Five, and most had been told of the bad effects of drug abuse in school.
“All it takes is one person in a group to say ‘no’. and I believe none or perhaps fewer would try drugs. Rada members can work towards being this good influence in our community,” Hoh said.
Hoh added that the problem was serious as drug addicts were known to do anything to facilitate their addiction.
“Break-ins, bizarre suicides and brain damage are a few of the problems caused by drug abuse.
“I’ve seen first-hand how it can affect family ties; fathers have come begging me to help get their sons into a rehabilitation (Puspen) centre,” Hoh said.
According to Hulu Langat district AADK officer Rosydan Haron, as of September, there were 1,145 Rada members in the district, the highest number among all the districts in the state.
Plans are also in place to form a Rada committee in the area to better facilitate its activities and information dissemination.
For more information or to be a Rada member, visit the AADK website at www.adk.gov.my.
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