MELAKA, Feb 24 — The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) has set a target to change the status of 16 high-risk areas (KBT), where drug addiction is prevalent, to low-risk areas (KBR) this year, said its director-general Sutekno Ahmad Belon.
It is a continuation of last year's success, where 99 per cent or 77 KBTs obtained green status and switched to KBR.
"This is one of the efforts to reduce the projected addiction severity in this country from 437 cases to 400 cases per 100,000 population by 2025.
"Among the efforts is to change the status of 155 areas identified as KBT to KBR within five years from 2021," he told the press after attending a walkabout programme at Pantai Puteri today.
Elaborating, Sutekno said over the past year, 14,890 drug addicts have fully recovered from addiction out of the total 19,820 addicts who participated in the Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme (RPDK) and underwent assessment.
Meanwhile, AADK is also setting its sights on recruiting one million AADK Squad members, especially youth, this year.
"These volunteers are not solely dedicated to conducting anti-drug talks; instead, our goal for this squad is to participate in healthy activities as a means of preventing drug addiction," he said.
This squad has a role in assisting the Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme, which caters to 90 per cent of AADK clients residing in their homes and undergoing scheduled rehabilitation treatments.
"We aim for a 76 per cent recovery rate out of every 100 clients this year, and engaging in healthy activities and fostering community readiness will contribute to their recovery," Sutekno said.
— Bernama
