Symptoms and signs of drug / inhalant abuse
The Problems - Consequences of drug abuses
Tackling the problems - The Law
Drug Trafficking
The intoxicating Substances Act
Preventive Education

Symptoms and signs of drug / inhalant abuse

Certain behaviours and signs (listed below) can warn you that a youth may be involved with drug or inhalants

• Excitable, hostile violent, destructive behavior, outbreak of temper
• Loss of concentration or attention
• Unsteadiness, clumsiness
• Slurred speech, talking to self
• Confusion, disorientation
• Dreamy state, hallucination
• Loss of interest in personal care and appearance, in food, family activities
• Social withdrawal
• Sudden decline in attendance and performance in school
• Repeated failure in school or frequent job hopping
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Frequent places like storeroom, toilet or isolated corners
• Sores in the nose or mouth (in the case of glue sniffers), runny nose, bloodshot eyes
• Smell of solvents on breath, clothes and hair (in the case of glue sniffers)
• Coughing, frequent salivation, spitting

This outline may help you to identify persons abusing drugs by enabling you to recognize symptoms and signs of drug abuse. Obviously, no one symptom should be considered as indication of such abuse. Also, it should be remembered that some of these symptoms could reflect normal teenage growing pain or other health problems. However if a friend or classmate persistently displays these general symptoms, it will be wise to seek the advice of the teachers or parents.

The Problems - Consequences of drug abuses

• Crime and prostitution
  Majority of the drug addicts resorts to crime or prostitution to finance their drug activities.

• Poor performance in school
  Abusers are likely to perform badly in school. They become so engrossed in drug taking that they become less motivated in their studies and become premature school leavers.

• Poor work ethics
  Abusers tend to opt for temporary unemployment and wait for job that give them high salary.
  Frequent absenteeism is common to them, and they are unable to keep their jobs for a long time because of their craving for drugs. They are afraid that they will be discovered soon. They are also unable to work productively under the influence of drugs.

• Neglect personal appearance
  Abusers tend to loss interest in their personal appearance. They have an untidy look.

• Lose support
  Friends and families of abusers do not want to have anything to do with them. They usually lose their support and are rejected by their families, friends and society. There is also a high divorce rate among drug addicts.

• Employment difficulties
  It is difficult for ex-addicts to find employment. People tend to mistrust them. They carry with them the stigma of having been drug addicts.

• Negative influence
  Addicts can have negative influences on friends and peer. They can influence them into taking drugs.

• Family problem
  The addict takes no interest in hiss family. He will be unable to support and help his family. This will result in additional family problems.

• Lack of self-control
  An addict is not in control of his own life. He is under the influence of drugs and his life is center around it. He may have taken drugs or sniff inhalants in order to escape from reality, only to be "imprisoned" in the snares of drugs or inhalant abuse.

• Wasting away life
  The most precious years of youth will be wasted under the influence of drugs.

• Physically unfit
  An addict's health will deteriorate due to the effects of drug abuse. He will become physically unfit to engage in activities such as sports.

Tackling the problems - The Law

The law against drug and inhalant abuse
The enactment of the misuse of drug act, 1973
The misuse of drug act was enacted in 1973. A distinction was made between those who should be punished and those who should be treated and rehabilitated.
Under the law, using of prohibited drug whether by smoking or otherwise, is an offence. However, drug addicts are usually not sent to prison but to the Drug Rehabilitation centers for treatment and rehabilitation under the directive of the Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau. The addicts will not then be charged in courts and criminalized.

Penalty for drug trafficking

The word "traffic" as defined in the Misuse of Drug Act Chapter 185 means:
To sell, give, administrate, transport, send, deliver or distribute; or
To offer to do anything stated above.
Penalty for trafficking vary with the type of drug trafficked in, and the quantities of drug involved.

Mandatory death penalty was introduced in December 1975 for person convicted for trafficking in:

• 15g of heroin;
• 30g of morphine;
• And in February 1990, the death penalty was added to the following trafficking offences:
• 1.2kg of opium;
• 500g of cannabis;
• 200g of cannabis resin;
• 1000g of cannabis mixture; or
• 30g of cocaine

In addition, unauthorised import and export of the above drugs and unauthorised manufacture of heroin, morphine and cocaine also carry the mandatory death sentence.

The presumption clause under Section 17 of the MDA stipulates that anyone caught in possession of a certain amount of a drug is presumed to be trafficking in the drug. Under the MDA, a person is presumed to be trafficking in a controlled drug if he has in his possession more than:

• 2g of heroin;
• 3g of morphine;
• 100g of opium;
• 15g of cannabis;
• 10g of cannabis resin;
• 30g of cannabis mixture; or
• 3g of cocaine

(Confiscation of Benefits) Act
CNB also enforces the Drug Trafficking (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. This Act empowers CNB to trace, freeze and confiscate assets gained from drug trafficking. It is to deny traffickers and their financiers the huge profits made from their illegal activities.

The Intoxicating Substances Act

The Intoxicating Substances Act 1987 came into effect on 1st November 1987. It was introduced to check the increased in inhalant abuser.
Salient features of the Act are:
Inhalant abuse is made an offence.
Suspected inhalant abuser will be subject to blood test for confirmation.

Inhalant abusers who are detected for the first time will be placed under supervision for a period of about 6-12 months by approved agencies for different category of inhalant abusers.

Inhalant abuser who breaches the supervision regulation will be punished.

Inhalants who are recalcitrant will be admitted for treatment and rehabilitation in approved institutions for a period of one month for 1st timer. The length of detention increased up to 11 months for a 6th timer abuser. At 7th timer and above, they will be prosecuted in court.

Treatment programme for inhalant abuser
After a week of recuperation and orientation, inhalant abuser will do menial labour in the morning and intensive drill (physical training) in the afternoon. They will undergo individual and family counselling with the prison counsellor. Before their discharge, they will be issued a supervision order for them to report to CNB for urine supervision for a period of 6-12 months.

ENFORCEMENT

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)
The Singapore government set up the Central Narcotics Bureau in 1971. It is the central or main agency to enforce and co-ordinate drug control measures. In addition to the CNB, drug enforcement are also undertaken by the Police and Customs.
Suspected abusers are detained and subject to urine tests. If the urine test give positive result, the drug abuser will be committed to Drug Rehabilitation Centres for institutional treatment and rehabilitation.

PREVENTIVE EDUCATION

Preventive drug education is an integral part of the overall demand reduction strategy to reduce the incidence of drug abuse in Singapore. The CNB Preventive Education Unit organises various activities such as visits to drug rehabilitation centres, school talks, exhibitions, camps, seminars and campaigns to educate and reach out to the target groups of students, youths and the general public. Programmes are also conducted for parents and teachers to enhance their role in the prevention efforts. CNB works in close coordination with schools, self-help groups and voluntary organisations to ensure the success of its prevention programmes.

For more information on preventive drug education and frequently asked question, please go to Central Narcotics Bureau homepage

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