SINGAPORE (BERNAMA) – The number of new drug abusers below the age of 20 arrested in Singapore increased by 30 per cent in 2024, continuing a worrying trend in youth drug abuse in the country, according to the latest report from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
The Singapore Drug Situation Report 2024, released yesterday, stated that for the past two years, more than half of the new abusers arrested have been under 30 years old.
“In 2024, the youngest abuser arrested was a 13-year-old, far younger than the average onset age of drug abuse of 16 years old, as indicated in the 2022 Health and Lifestyle Survey.
“While Singapore’s drug situation generally remains under control, worrying trends in youth drug abuse persist,” the report said, noting that the 2024 figures are provisional.
Although the total number of drug abusers arrested saw a slight decrease from 3,122 in 2023 to 3,119 in 2024, the number of new drug abusers arrested increased from 952 to 966 during the same period.
Methamphetamine, heroin, and cannabis were the three most commonly abused drugs in 2024, with 95 per cent of those arrested having abused at least one of these substances.
For new drug abusers, methamphetamine, cannabis and ecstasy were the three most commonly abused drugs, with 92 per cent of them having abused at least one of these three substances.
Some 75 per cent of the new drug abusers arrested last year were methamphetamine abusers. Methamphetamine abusers continued to form the majority (89 per cent) of the drug abusers under 20 years old arrested.
