UNDER-13S HIGH ON DRUGS

KUALA LUMPUR: In January this year, 177 primary school children became
drug addicts.

If this alarming figure is taken as a monthly average, the number of
new addicts below 13 this year will exceed last year's, a possibility
that deeply troubles Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho.

"Last year, there were 1,802 new drug addicts in the under-13 age
group," Tan said yesterday.

"This January alone, there were 177. Multiplying that by 12 will give
us 2,124, an increase of more than 50 per cent. I fear for the future
of tomorrow's leaders if they are already taking drugs in primary school."

Statistics for the first month of this year show 930 new drug addicts,
among whom those under-13 formed the second-largest percentage.

The highest number of new addicts last January, which was 182, were in
the 20-24 age group.

Related January figures for secondary students show 13 new drug
addicts in the 13-15 age group, and 49 in the 16-17 age group.

One of the reasons for drug addiction among youths is peer
pressure.

"If parents are not around to listen to their children's problems,
they will seek a sympathetic ear from others," Tan said.

"Some of these people may be unsavoury characters who may lead them to
drugs."

He was speaking to journalists yesterday after launching the Cheras
Carnival 2006.

In his speech, Tan commented on the number of youths present.

"I'm glad to see so many young people here with their families. This
is a healthy way to spend your weekends."