Helping young people overcome drug addiction in Malaysia

Youssouf Oomar, UNICEF Representative in Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei emphasizes gave an emphasis about the youngsters often started to perform a scientific procedure with illegal drugs when they have reach their developmental stages from adolescence to young adulthood.

In the study of The National Anti-Drug Agency in Malaysia during 2008, the two main reasons that the youngsters mentioned why they get involved in illegal drugs are peer pressure and their strong desire to learn something. Mr. Youssouf gave a warning and reminder that this type of experimentation can result to misuse and damage because young individuals are not capable to assess the negative effects and outcome of their behavior.

Mr. Youssouf added that youngsters who begin to experiment illegal drugs for the first time are not knowledgeable that illegal drugs can destroy their whole life. Rather than letting them to be susceptible with illegal drugs, we need to support them to change their life for the better.

These young individuals have the right to know the facts and need to be guided properly in order for them to make right decisions. UNICEF is cooperating with the Ministry of Education to present the life skills-based education into educational institutions and instruct high school teachers on personal and social development as well as the illegal drug prevention.

T. Eek