Singapore Commemorates World Drug Day
Every year on the 26th of June, Singapore joins nations across the world to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as the World Drug Day. This day was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987 as an expression of its determination to achieve the vision of an international society free of drug abuse.
In support of this vision, the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) will launch the Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign (ADAC) 2012 on 24 June. NCADA and CNB are collaborating with the Singapore Polytechnic, whose students from its School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE) will help conceptualise and organise a series of anti-drug activities for the campaign.
Commemorative Event @ Open Space outside The Cathay on 23 and 24 June 2012: Singapore’s Largest Phone Wipe Mosaic and launch of the new Drug Buster Academy
The theme of this year’s Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign, or ADAC, is ‘Life Does Not Rewind. Make The Right Choice’. A fun-filled and meaningful two-day event will be held at the open space outside The Cathay from 23 to 24 June 2012 from 11am to 6pm daily to raise awareness of the anti-drug cause among young people and the public. Students from the Singapore Polytechnic will be leading student volunteers from eight schools in an attempt to build Singapore’s largest mosaic made of over 20,000 commemorative phone wipes. Besides watching and cheering the students on, members of public can learn more about the dangers of drug abuse through the exhibitions and game booths at the event. Members of public can also get a sneak preview of the Drug Buster Academy, CNB’s new anti-drug mobile exhibition bus. The Drug Buster Academy will be launched by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, who will be Guest-of-Honour at the event on 24 June. Over 260 student volunteers will also be distributing the commemorative phone wipes island-wide on 23, 24 and 30 June.
Anti-Addiction Affair 2012: Unmask the Truth Challenge @ Addiction Mall from 18 to 20 July 2012
This year, CNB and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) have teamed up to organise a series of “adventure workshops” from 18 to 20 July 2012, known as the
Anti-Addiction Affair 2012: Unmask the Truth Challenge. Targeted at Upper Primary and Lower Secondary school students, participants will have to put on their detective hats and embark on a hunt to solve substance abuse-related ‘crimes’. The students would learn the costly impact of smoking, alcohol and drugs addiction through their ‘investigation’, the interactive games and puzzles, and the first-hand account from an ex-drug abuser. These adventures will take place at the newly refurbished
Addiction Mall located at HPB’s HealthZone.
Mr Ng Ser Song, Director, Central Narcotics Bureau, said, “Tough laws and rigorous enforcement, together with effective preventive drug education, have helped keep the drug situation in Singapore under control. The Central Narcotics Bureau is glad to be able to collaborate with the National Council Against Drug Abuse and Singapore Polytechnic again for this year’s Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign. It is critical that we inculcate anti-drug awareness amongst the public and the community through preventive education, so that they understand the physical harms and social costs brought by drugs.”
In addition, a series of exciting anti-drug activities have been planned from July to September 2012. Some of the highlights include:
- Commemorative phone wipes packaged with information on the World Drug Day and the Anti-Drug Ribbon will be distributed to all students. School leaders are also encouraged to read out NCADA Chairman’s World Drug Day message on 10 July 2012, urging students to make a firm stand against drug abuse.
- An online anti-drug quiz for the public and schools will be held in July 2012 to raise greater awareness of the dangers of drug and inhalant abuse.
- A series of roving anti-drug exhibitions with booth games will visit various locations around the island from July to August 2012 to spread the anti-drug message to the youths.
- Sportzamania, a popular sports carnival organised by CNB since 2006, will be held in September 2012. It aims to encourage youths to lead a healthy, drug-free lifestyle through fun sports and carnival activities.
(Please refer to
Annex A for the list of events planned for this year’s Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign and
Annex B for a picture of the phone wipe.)
“The International Day Against Drugs demonstrates that drug abuse is a global issue that has to be tackled together with determination and cohesion. Singapore faces stiff challenges in the form of an increasing supply of drugs from the region. Given a weakening economic climate, many governments have shifted their focus away from the fight against drugs. The long term repeat drug abusers who would be released from Prisons in the next three years could also pose a contamination risk on our youth. Thus, the National Council Against Drug Abuse, together with the Central Narcotics Bureau, believes that preventive education is crucial in preventing people from getting started on drugs in the first place. We will continue to work hard with our partners to educate the public on the dangers and consequences of drug abuse and work towards a safe and drug-free environment for future generations of Singaporeans. Clearly, the World Drug Day shows that we are not alone in this fight,” said Dr N Varaprasad, Chairman of the National Council Against Drug Abuse.
The Council hopes that the public will support the range of commemorative activities planned and help us spread the anti-drug message to the people around them.
Issued by : National Council Against Drug Abuse Secretariat c/o Central Narcotics Bureau
Date : 22 June 2012
Annexes A and B
