PORT DICKSON, Dec 20 — The National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) will be using four models as guides to curb drug addiction at 155 high-risk areas (KBT) nationwide, beginning next year.
Its director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah said the models for people’s housing programme (PPR) involving 24 areas, fishing villages (23), Felda schemes (10) and other areas (98), were obtained based on 12 pioneer projects conducted by the agency last year.
Out of the 155 KBT, 136 are in the Peninsula, 12 in Sabah and seven in Sarawak, he said.
“Under the models, government departments and non-governmental bodies will carry out the programmes for former drug addicts (Nada clients) including support group, recovery coach and psychoeducation, besides mobilising the community to practise a healthy lifestyle,” he told reporters after the agency’s meeting on its programme assessment here, yesterday.
Meanwhile, he said the outcome from the 12 pioneer projects, which started as red zones, showed that all locations turned green except Petaling Jaya, Langkawi and Pengkalan Chepa, which only improved to the yellow zone.
“The social diversion indicators have shown a positive trend in all areas, in which criminal cases dropped by 75.9 per cent, drugs-related complaints decreased five per cent and a 175 per cent increase in clients coming voluntarily for treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.
Following that, Zulkifli said Nada had developed an instrument to gauge the greening of high-risk drug addiction areas based on three indicators.
“These include reducing newly detected addicts, enhance treatment and recovery service and improving community co-operation with various implementer agencies,” he said.
Prior to this, Nada had carried out its first 12 pioneer projects, assisted by 10 ministries and 15 government related agencies in integrated operations in Petaling, Sungai Besar and Felda Gugusan Hulu Selangor, Selangor; Sungai Bunus PPR, Kuala Lumpur; Felda Keratong 3, Pahang; Kuala Dungun, Terengganu; Felda Lubuk Merbau, Kuala Kedah and Langkawi, Kedah; Pengkalan Chepa in Kelantan and Perling and Parit Sulong, Johor.
— Bernama
