JERTIH, May 10 — Youths remain the largest group involved in drug abuse in Malaysia, according to the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK).
Its director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said individuals aged between 15 and 39 made up 60 per cent of the 192,857 drug users detained in 2024, totalling 115,714 people.
He said this is a significant 32.5 per cent increase in the total number of drug users compared to the 145,526 recorded in the previous year.
“In Terengganu alone, 56 per cent or 6,800 of the 12,004 recorded drug users were youths from the same age group, with many found to be using synthetic drugs such as yaba pills, also known locally as pil kuda,” said Ruslin.
He was speaking to the press after officiating the AADK Director-General's Engagement Programme at the Gong Kemuntong Community Hall today.
Ruslin urged parents and schools to take a more active role in preventing youth involvement in drug abuse, warning that failure to act could lead to serious long-term consequences.
— Bernama
