Singapore's strategy to combat drugs

Singapore adopts a comprehensive drug control strategy that tackles both drug demand and supply. It involves preventive drug education, tough anti-drug laws, rigorous enforcement, international engagement, and the rehabilitation and aftercare of drug offenders.

Drug abuse harms the drug abusers, their families and their loved ones. Drug abuse also affects the wider community.

Our people are Singapore’s most precious assets and we cannot allow drugs to take hold of our society.

There are strict laws to keep harmful drugs out of Singapore and out of reach of those who want to abuse drugs. CNB enforces the law and bring drug traffickers to justice. At the checkpoints, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority perform regular checks and take action against those who attempt to flout Singapore's drug laws. CNB also conducts regular enforcement operations against drug activities.

There are rehabilitation and aftercare programmes to help drug abusers stop taking drugs and to help them reintegrate into the community. To lessen the harm, it is important that drug abusers seek help early. Drug abusers may be placed directly on the Drug Supervision Scheme or admitted to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre for treatment and rehabilitation. They are introduced to evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation plans that provide them with the skills to build a drug-free life. The pathways of recovery depend on the abusers’ assessed risk of reoffending. CNB and the Singapore Prison Service work closely to provide this support system.

Prevention is key

In Singapore’s fight against drugs, we emphasise preventive education, even as we enforce our tough laws. The fundamental principle underlying Singapore’s approach to drugs is to prevent harm to our people and society in the first place. Preventive education therefore forms the first pillar of Singapore’s harm prevention approach, and is also the first line of defence in Singapore’s overall drug control strategy.

To reinforce and enhance coordination in preventive drug education, the Inter-Ministry Committee on Drug Prevention for Youths, comprising the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social & Family Development, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, People’s Association, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Ministry of Health, was set up in 2023.

Towards a DrugFreeSG

Singapore’s focus is on building a drug-free society, not a drug-tolerant one. As a small nation, we can ill afford the societal devastation that can be caused by widespread drug addiction, as witnessed in other countries.

Singapore’s tough stance on drugs is based on scientific evidence, and we will continue to communicate this clearly and dispel misinformation, so that Singaporeans can make informed choices on drug abuse.

DrugFreeSG means a drug-free Singapore where all of us can work, live and play safely, away from the harms of drugs. All of us can do our part to support a DrugFreeSG and keep our community resilient against drug abuse.