The New Straits Times, January 9, 2000
By Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
ON the eve of the New Year, four schoolboys were found in possession of Ecstasy pills and ganja. They were among seven charged in the Ipoh magistrate's court.
For sure this is not an isolated case. According to Pemadam's vice-president a few days earlier, the scourge of dadah is still rampant and "statistics on drug users were not only shocking but also worsening each year." (NST, Dec 27).
To some, however, this statement is not as shocking, given the frequent reminders of the sad state of affairs. What is shocking is that 80 per cent of addicts today are between the ages of 15 and 35.
Drug addiction has been Malaysia's number one problem for more than two decades. Hundreds of millions of ringgit have been spent, yet the problem remains intractable and victory is nowhere in sight.
It is commendable, therefore, that Pemadam's mission for the new millennium is to make the nation dadah-free by 2023. While Pamadam believes the key to fighting the scourge lies in prevention - in the home, workplace and society - it has to go beyond this.
Today's anti-drug strategies must appeal to the younger generation in order for them to participate in realising a dadah-free 21st century.
A good example of such participation was reported by NST in its Dec 27 issue entitled "Youths brave hot sun, long queue to get party tickets".
Youths can exhibit a high degree of sacrifice and participation when it appeals to them. Ironically, in this case, they were in full force to attend the Salem Cool Planet Millennium Party - Zero Countdown 2000 on New Year's Eve at Subang Airport.
What was significant was that the tobacco industry was well-poised to grab our attention in a more creative manner than any governmental agency or NGO has been able to do.
Compared to this, needless to say, anti-dadah activities often have little lasting impact, if any.
That the tobacco industry is more adept at attracting our youths poses added problems to anti-dadah programmes since tobacco-use is the "missing" link in dadah addiction in this country.
"Missing" because bodies like Pemadam have not recognised cigarettes as an important component of dadah addiction.
Traditionally, tobacco is deemed unrelated to dadah addiction. More than this, tobacco is a touchy issue and it is better not to rock the boat.
Yet the Malaysian tobacco industry is not taking any chances. Its advertisements are very pervasive. The sponsorships are prominently displayed everywhere, especially targeted at youths, namely in areas of sports and entertainment.
Major sports leagues and media houses are willing partners in advancing the image of the tobacco industry via branded products.
Against this background, anti-dadah activities generally are completely overshadowed. In fact, can anyone recall when was the last time we saw an anti-dadah advertisement or sponsorship?
In short, history is bound to repeat itself if organisations like Pemadam fail to restructure themselves and take on broader issues in the fight against addiction, regardless of the substance used.
It is pertinent to note that according to the World Health Organisation: "The (addiction) problems no longer relate to the use of only one or a few drugs. More often, users move from one drug to another and use combinations of different substances. In many societies, habit-forming exposure to tobacco, alcohol and drugs can start at a very early age, with grave consequences for health in later life."
Pemadam, therefore, must articulate a clear position and strategy against the use of other addictive substances like tobacco, whose use is increasing among youths. It has on occasion admitted that cigarettes are a "gateway" to dadah addiction, and by extension, the tobacco industry is a "gateway" industry to perpetuating addiction.
Pemadam, however, has yet to categorically state its stance on how to curb the activities of the industry.
The tobacco industry has, subtly but surely, added another dimension to the lifestyle of youths. Many would concede that smoking is indeed "cool", thanks to the tobacco companies.
Invariably some will be inducted to take up smoking - and others will go on to serve as conduits into other forms of dadah sourge that Pemadam has been lamenting all along.
Based on this observation, in all likelihood the curse of dadah (including that of tobacco) on our society will stay undiminished beyond the magical year 2023.
Winning the dadah war will only be possible if it is closely complemented by a tobacco war on all fronts by all those concern. Organisations like Pemadam must not only have a comprehensive strategy towards this; equally important, it must also work for its members to stop smoking as a sign of commitment in fighting the dadah war.
This process of "internal cleansing" is recognisably an ardous task for Pemadam members who are "addicted" to cigarettes!
But the principle is clear. One cannot profess seriousness to wipe out addiction when he/she too practises and condones addiction, albeit in different forms.
Any resolution in making Malaysia a "dadah-free" nation must be anchored on the premise that it is also one which is "smoke-free".
This is one resolution that must be acted upon single-mindedly.
