INMATES who have completed their sentences or paid their fines for drug abuse offences need to be supervised by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) for two to three years, says the Deputy Home Minister.
Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (pic) said 3,472 people are serving time in prison for drug abuse offences under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Act 283), while another 2,978 have been remanded for abusing drugs.
He said that last year alone, 75,291 people received treatment at the AADK for drug abuse, with 2,460 of them having sought treatment voluntarily.
Out of the total figure, Shamsul said 65,372 people received treatment in the AADK community facility while another 9,919 received treatment at the AADK institution.
He was speaking in Parliament when tabling the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) 2024 for a second reading.
He said the amendments to Act 283 included the creation of a new subsection to allow individuals to obtain treatment for a period of up to six months.
“This chance is given to help clients so they can free themselves from addiction by being in a controlled environment,” he said.Shamsul added that the new Section 6A under Act 283 was to allow the courts, upon the advice of the rehabilitation officer, to allow drug abusers to go through treatment and rehabilitation.
“This section also gives powers to the magistrate to order drug abusers to undergo treatment or rehabilitation in the community for a period no longer than two years, or at a rehabilitation centre no longer than six months,” he said.
At the same time, Shamsul said drug addicts who did not abide by any rules while undergoing treatment could be punished.
For the first offence, he said they would be ordered to undergo a six-month extension of their treatment.
For the second and subsequent offences, they would be ordered to undergo treatment at a rehabilitation centre for a period no longer than one year, he added.
According to Shamsul, amendments to Section 8 would allow the rehabilitation officer to admit and determine the necessary treatment for people who sought rehabilitation treatment voluntarily.
He said rehabilitation for those who sought voluntary treatment could be conducted at rehabilitation centres, service centres, private rehabilitation centres or even in the community for up to two years.
“With this proposed amendment a client can begin treatment and rehabilitation immediately with a shorter evaluation period,” he said.
The treatment of those who do not comply with treatment and rehabilitation conditions could be stopped, he added.
According to the Bill, the proposed Section 27C will allow for the formation of the Rehabilitation Officers Council, which will oversee the treatment and rehabilitation profession.
The council will comprise drug treatment and rehabilitation experts from the private and government sectors.
The council will also decide on the qualification conditions and criteria of registered health practitioners who will be carrying out rehabilitation and treatment work.
The amendments to Act 283 were tabled for first reading on Tuesday by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
