News
Singapore marks second Drug Victims Remembrance Day
16 May 2025
On 16 May 2025, Singapore commemorated its second Drug Victims Remembrance Day. Observed annually on the third Friday of May, the Drug Victims Remembrance Day is an initiative by the Inter-Ministry Committee (IMC) on Drug Prevention for Youths1 to highlight the far-reaching harms caused by drugs.
2. Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, led the observance ceremony at the Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre. Members of the IMC present at the ceremony included:
Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development;
Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for the Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower;
Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health;
Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development.
3. Regional counterparts including from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Thailand, and Mr Tan Chong Huat, Chairman of the National Council Against Drug Abuse, were also in attendance.
4. Drug Victims Remembrance Day acknowledges the suffering endured not only by drug abusers, but also their families and loved ones, and encourages community support for the anti-drug cause. By coming together on this meaningful day, we stand as a community for a strong response to the drug problem that Singapore and other communities worldwide face.
5. Public education and community engagements will be held alongside Drug Victims Remembrance Day, through which the IMC aims to foster empathy and support for those affected by drug abuse and to highlight the harsh realities they face.
Photo 1 (CNB): Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, giving his opening speech at the observance of the second Drug Victims Remembrance Day on 16 May 2025.
Photo 2 (CNB): Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, and Mr Leon Chan, Acting Director of CNB, with youths at the observance of the second Drug Victims Remembrance Day on 16 May 2025.
“Museum of Us” exhibition from 16 to 18 May 2025
6. The Drug Victims Remembrance Day exhibition, themed "Museum of Us", will take place from 16 to 18 May at Suntec City Level 1 Atrium (Convention Centre). Through an interactive and immersive experience, visitors will be offered an intimate glimpse at the profound impact of drug abuse on individuals and their loved ones.
7. Visitors can delve into the lives of drug victims through poignant audio recordings, videos, and personal artefacts. The exhibition also features articles on the harsh realities of drug abuse and affirms Singapore's resolute stance through its strict drug laws and zero-tolerance approach towards drugs. First-hand youth testimonials on the heavy costs of drug addiction also provide a sobering and emotional perspective to the public.
8. Visitors are also invited to light a candle at the exhibition to remember the 600,000 lives lost globally each year to drug abuse. The candle-lighting serves as a symbol of solidarity with those who continue to be affected by the scourge of drugs.
Photos 3 and 4 (CNB): The “Museum of Us” exhibition, featuring an immersive and interactive experience for visitors to get a close look at how drug abuse affects not just the individual, but their families and loved ones as well.
“Remember Us” campaign films
9. As part of the campaign, a series of five short films titled “Remember Us”, which explores the painful memories that linger with the victims of drug abuse, will be screened at the exhibition. These emotionally powerful films allow viewers to be immersed in the lives of the those left behind, shedding light on how drug abuse transforms life’s happiest moments into sorrowful ones. The films will also be available for viewing on various social media platforms.2
10. Complementing the films, larger-than-life artefacts from the short films will be displayed across eight locations in Singapore, including Bugis+, Funan and Our Tampines Hub. Paired with real-life facts, these installations offer visitors an engaging and immersive exploration of the themes depicted in the films, while underscoring the concrete and devastating consequences of drug abuse.
Photo 5 (CNB): Snippets of the “Remember Us” campaign films that bring to light the devastating consequences and harms of drug abuse.
Photo 6 (CNB): Pop-up displays of larger-than-life artefacts from the campaign films at Bugis+, paired with real-life facts which underscore the concrete and devastating consequences of drug abuse.
Pledge your support to keep Singapore drug-free
11. The public is encouraged to visit the “Museum of Us” exhibition, light a candle, and make a pledge to stay drug-free on-site, to memorialise their resolve to protecting themselves, their families, and the community from the harms of drugs. More details on the exhibition and installations, including options to make online pledges and light virtual candles, can be found at go.gov.sg/rday2025.
12. Your commitment and support matters – together, we can stand in solidarity in our fight against drugs, foster empathy, and raise awareness to protect our loved ones from the detrimental impact of drugs that extend far beyond the abuser.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
16 May 2025
1The Inter-Ministry Committee (IMC) on Drug Prevention for Youths, chaired by the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam, was set up in August 2023 to develop a whole-of-Government response to tackle the drug problem among youths, with a focus on preventive drug education. The IMC comprises 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.
2Drug Victims Remembrance Day 2025 campaign films on YouTube
CNB.DrugFreeSG on Instagram
CNB.DrugFreeSG on Facebook
CNB.DrugFreeSG on TikTok