The National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) was set up in January 95 in response to the need for a national think-tank and as well as an umbrella body on anti-drug strategies and programmes. Voluntary welfare organisations will be asked to do more and take on responsibility and ownership of various aspects of the overall fight against drugs. Everyone in the community has a role to play and an obligation to fight drug abuse.
|
NCADA works closely with the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Prisons Department and Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) to map out strategies to fight drug abuse. Regular meetings are held with officials from these three agencies and the Ministry of Home Affairs to work out action plans for preventive drug education, treatment, rehabiliation and aftercare support. Voluntary welfare organisations and community self-help groups are also invited to share their ideas and proposals.
|
NCADA believes that preventive education is a critical pillar of its strategy to help and complement the Government's anti-drug effort. This is because once a youth is addicted to drugs, his future and sometimes his life can be destroyed by drugs. It is, therefore, important to ensure that preventive education starts at an early stage in the school to help students realise the dangers of drug addiction. The Council feels that all youths in Singapore must build up not only an immunity against drug abuse, but also a consensus of zero drug tolerance. Such a consensus must also be inculcated in the other segments of society because any wavering or weakening of vigilance against the drug threat may spell trouble for Singapore.
|
As part of its long-term strategy, the Council intends to focus on creating a strong and cohesive social network to support the Government's anti-drug measures and programmes. It strongly believes that everyone in the community has a role to play and an obligation to fight drug abuse. The ultimate aim is also to create a "caring chain" so that a rehabilitated addict can travel the long road to full recovery with the help of someone who cares and supports him at every stage of the journey.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Site visits by NCADA members to places such as the halfway houses enable the Council to gain an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the rehabilitation programme. |
|
