Early interventions at school level, expanding mobile treatment outreach among initiatives to overcome substance usage especially involving underage group: Nada DG
KAJANG: Children as young as 10 are being drawn into substance abuse, the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) warned, as it ramps up school interventions, expands mobile treatment outreach and adds 654 new posts to strengthen anti-drug operations nationwide.
Nada director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said underage individuals involvement in substance abuse has become a serious concern requiring early intervention at school level.
“The issue of children being involved, as young as 10 years old, in substance and drug abuse will also be given attention at schools,” Ruslin said during his new year address here at the Nada headquarters yesterday.
He said Nada will implement the Squad Junior Nada programme in selected primary and secondary schools with support under Budget 2026 in cooperation with the Education Ministry.
“This programme will produce a small anti-drug squad that is resilient and able to counter negative influences and threats involving drugs,” he said.
Ruslin said the agency is shifting towards a health-based approach, stressing addiction should no longer be viewed purely through punishment.
The shift follows amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983, which allow individuals to seek help directly without court proceedings.
Following this movement, Ruslin announced that 654 new posts have been approved by the Finance Ministry and Public Service Department to strengthen anti-drug operations.
The new posts will support 16 district offices and 18 screening centres nationwide, including 281 treatment-related positions.
Nada is also strengthening their Mobile Treatment and Rehabilitation programme, which deploys outreach teams to engage individuals reluctant to seek help due to stigma.
Yesterday’s development, Ruslin said, involves the deployment of Nada’s first large-capacity bus, which began operating in January to enhance outreach operations.
He said the services, which previously operated using vans and smaller vehicles, most notably in Hilux units, reached 15,822 clients in 2025, representing 45% of total clients served.
“With this (newly deployed) bus, we now have dedicated consultation rooms. Families are more comfortable coming forward when privacy is assured.
“This is one of our efforts to reach clients or individuals involved in drugs who are outside urban areas, or who feel ashamed or worried because of the stigma from society.
“We are strongly promoting voluntary treatment. Individuals can come directly to Nada without going through legal processes, he said.
“We even offer treatment packages ranging from three months up to two years,” he said at the programme launch after the new year address.
Ruslin said slightly over 1,000 individuals entered treatment voluntarily last year, with the increase still modest as enforcement of the amended law only began in August 2025.
Beyond prevention, Ruslin said the agency’s rehabilitation framework is showing strong outcomes.
Under the iPulih model, Nada recorded an 81% recovery rate, with 20,038 clients achieving sustained recovery out of 24,761 assessed in 2025.
A client recovery index has also been developed to monitor treatment progress every six months, allowing the agency to track rehabilitation outcomes in the community.
Meanwhile, the Drug Assessment Centre system ensured 75% of new detainees underwent screening and assessment within seven days of arrest.
All these efforts, he said, support the national Drug Control 2030 Agenda, which aims to keep drug addiction prevalence within the national threshold of 700 addicts per population benchmark.
“Prevention remains critical. We must stop people from falling into drug abuse in the first place,” he added.
