• Local Abuser Arrested
• Local Abuser By Drug Type
• Comparison of total abusers with 2005
• New Abusers by Drug Type
• Comparison of new abusers with 2005
• Ethnicity
• Age Group
• Drug Seizures
• Conclusion

Local Abuser Arrested

The drug situation in Singapore remains well under control in 2006. 1,127 drug abusers were arrested in 2006 as compared to 793 in 2005.

Overall, the number of abusers arrested has generally been on the decline since the peak in 1994. Between 1994 and 2006, the number of abusers arrested registered an 82% decline.

464 new abusers were arrested last year. This is the second consecutive year that the number of new drug abusers is below the 500 mark.

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Local Abuser By Drug Type

Similar to the trend in the past two years, abusers of synthetic drugs formed the majority of abusers arrested in 2006 at 49%. Buprenorphine abusers formed the next largest group making up 31% of the total abusers arrested. Heroin abusers formed only 9.7% of total abusers arrested.

Since buprenorphine was listed as a Class A controlled drug on 14 Aug 2006, 347 persons were arrested for abusing the drug.

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Comparison of total abusers with 2005

In 2006, there were 48 more heroin abusers arrested as compared to the previous year. Cannabis abusers also registered an increase of 11 abusers. As a group, synthetic drug abusers decreased by 12%, from 629 arrested in 2005 to 554 last year. Individually, all the synthetic drugs registered improvements. The number of Ecstasy abusers continues to fall with a significant 27% decrease, while methamphetamine and nimetazepam abusers fell by 14% and 12% respectively. The number of ketamine abusers also registered a slight decrease of 3%.

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New Abusers by Drug Type

78% of new abusers arrested last year took synthetic drugs. This is a 9% improvement over the previous year. New heroin abusers formed only 2% of new abusers arrested last year.

Ketamine abusers formed the largest proportion of new abusers arrested at 27% while nimetazepam abusers formed the second largest proportion at 24%.

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Comparison of new abusers with 2005

Amongst new abusers, only new abusers of heroin and cannabis registered an increase. New abusers of synthetic drugs all registered declines.

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Ethnicity

Drug abusers across all ethnic groups registered increases in 2006. 213 more Malay abusers were arrested in 2006 as compared to 2005, while 72 more Indian abusers were arrested in 2006 as compared to 2005. The Chinese abusers increased by 45 abusers in 2006.

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Age Group

Abusers in the 30-39 age group increased from 220 in 2005 to 371 in 2006, whereas those aged 40 and above increased from 139 in 2005 to 359 last year.

Abusers below 30 all registered declines. The most significant improvement came from abusers below 20 years old with a 14% decline in abusers arrested.

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Drug Seizures

Seizures of drugs were low in the last two years. Only seizures of cannabis and nimetazepam increased as compared to 2005.

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Conclusion

The increase in the number of abusers arrested in 2006 is not unexpected and is attributed to the arrest of buprenorphine abusers since buprenorphine was made a controlled drug on 14 Aug 06. Nevertheless, the local drug situation is well under control, considering that the total number of abusers arrested in 2006 has declined by 82% from its peak in 1994.

The local synthetic drug situation has also improved, with abusers of all synthetic drugs declining in numbers, registering a 12% improvement over the previous year.

CNB will continue with vigorous enforcement to ensure that the abuse of buprenorphine remains in check. With continued efforts on all fronts, i.e. rigorous and effective enforcement, preventive drug education, tough legislation, dedicated treatment and rehabilitation as well as continued aftercare support and community involvement, the local drug situation will remain under firm control.

Central Narcotics Bureau
January 2007

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