KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 — The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) branch in Perlis has revealed that students in Perlis are consuming cultured milk drink varieties laced with ketum, Kosmo reported today.
The report quotes the state AADK director Azizah Ahmad saying that the trend was identified after the agency interviewed a group of troubled secondary school students in the Perlis.
“Among the problematic ones, there were some who admitted to drinking ketum leaf water mixed with flavoured cultured milk drinks,” she reportedly told Kosmo.
Azizah told the daily that although the number of students consuming ketum leaves is not high, the trend is still worrying as it involves school students
She said that the new trend of mixing ketum water with cultured milk drinks is to reduce the bitter taste of the ketum water.
“Drug addicts who were caught have admitted to resorting to ketum leaf water mixed with multi-flavoured cultured milk drinks if their drug supply gets cut off,” she was quoted saying.
The use of ketum is prohibited under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 that allows for a maximum fine of RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to four years, but offenders are reportedly generally only fined.
