Overview of Singapore’s Drug Situation in 2017

While the local drug situation remained stable in 2017 and Singapore stayed relatively drug-free, there are two areas of concern. A high 40% of the drug abusers arrested in 2017 were new abusers.  Second, a significant proportion of these new abusers arrested were below 30 years of age (about 64%).

The regional and global drug situations remain challenging. Drug syndicates continue to profit from ensnaring people into the vicious drug cycle. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that global seizures of amphetamine-type stimulants had doubled in the period from 2010 to 2015. Global opium production increased by one-third from 2015 to 2016.

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) remains steadfast and committed in the fight against drugs. Working closely with its Home Team counterparts and strategic partners, CNB will continue to maintain an intense level of enforcement. Beyond enforcement, and to stem the drug-abuse problem upstream, CNB undertakes preventive drug education efforts and works closely with the community to raise awareness of the harms of drugs and to encourage individuals to embrace a drug-free lifestyle.