DRUG ABUSE AT WORKPLACE GETTING WORSE

IPOH: The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) should address the
problem of drug abuse at workplaces as records show that 60% of drug
abusers were workers, said National Drug Agency deputy director- general
Rashid Mat Adam.

He said the agency was in the midst of discussion with Human Resources
Ministry officers to include the awareness of drug abuse at workplaces
through the Act.

Now, he said, the Act did not specifically touch on the need to inculcate
an awareness or prevention of drug abuse at workplaces.

Inculcating awareness through the Act could expand the scope of drug abuse
programmes that could then relate aspects of health and safety at
workplaces, he said after closing a seminar on drug abuse at workplaces
attended by 120 organisation heads and supervisors from various government
and private organisations in the state on Saturday.

"If awareness on drug abuse at workplaces can be achieved through the Act,
then it can be an agenda for discussion at seminars or meetings organised
by the occupational, safety and health committee or relevant
organisations," he added.

Rashid said statistics showed that 60% of drug abusers were government and
private sector workers, adding that many were youngsters and from the
lower-income group.

"Once involved in drugs they are unable to work, hence disrupting the
development of the country and becoming a nuisance to their families and
the community," he said.

Rashid also pointed out that there were about 200,000 drug addicts in the
country and many were professionals such as managers, engineers, teachers,
accountants, lecturers and graduates.

He said amphetamine-type of stimulants such as syabu and Ecstasy, also
known as recreational drugs, were now the most sought after drugs by abusers.

He added that recreational drugs were deadly as they could damage a
person's mental health and cause death.

Rashid said Sabah had the highest number of amphetamine-type stimulant
abusers, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru, adding that such abusers
caused another problem for the authorities as they needed to be sent for
psychiatric treatment.