GEORGE TOWN, Aug 5 — Penang recorded the highest number of drug addicts in the country with a total of 18,889 recorded between 2013 and 2015. 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that the statistics were obtained from the National Anti-Drug Agency.

"These numbers refer only to those who are categorised as drug addicts, not those detained for other drug-related offences.

"The number could be higher if we take into account those who were arrested for using drugs but have yet to be classified as addicts,” he said at the launch of the Penang Drug Prevention Initiative (PDPI) here today.

Lim said the PDPI would collaborate with federal government agencies, particularly the police, to carry out comprehensive efforts to combat drug addiction and help those who wanted to be cured.

Among the PDPI strategies are to launch a prevention programme through the use of social media and to reach out to youths and family members of addicts who were too embarrassed to seek help.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the PDPI Assoc Prof Dr P. Sundramoorthy said individuals who came for treatment need not worry and feel embarrassed because the service provided by the PDPI would not require them to provide any forms of identification, including their names and address.

"This service is open not only to drug addicts, but also their family members and friends,” he said.

More information on the PDPI are available at www.pdpi.my.  — Bernama