PUTRAJAYA: Four states, namely Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis, have the highest number of drug addicts, based on a study conducted in September, revealed Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin said Pahang recorded the highest number with 16,150 or 0.96 per cent of its population of 1.679 million were drug addicts followed by Kelantan with 16,918 or 0.92 per cent of its population of 1.847 million were drug addicts; Terengganu (10,576 addicts or 0.87 per cent) and Perlis (2,123 addicts or 0.82 per cent).
He added that Negeri Sembilan ranked fifth place with 7,503 drug addicts, Penang (9,684), Melaka (4,140); Kedah (9,691); Johor (13,003); Perak (8,596); Kuala Lumpur (8,270); Sabah (9,513); Selangor (13,123) and Sarawak (4,414).
“Overall, the number of drug addicts nationwide since 2014 until September 2018 stood at 133,684, which is 0.40 per cent compared to the country’s population.
“The breakdown of addicts involves 80,598 or 73.4 per cent youths aged between 19 and 39; 26,197 are adults aged 40 and above, and 3,043 are teenagers aged between 13 and 18.
“Based on racial profile, the Malays have the highest number of addicts involving 88,522 people followed by Chinese (7,883 people); Indians (7,689 people); Sabah bumiputera (4,274 people) and Sarawak bumiputera (713 people),” said Muhyiddin after chairing the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) Law Enforcement Action Committee meeting.
In terms of gender breakdown, he said there were more male drug addicts at 105,632 compared to female at 4,206 people.
Muhyiddin also admitted that drug addiction and drug abuse issues had become a growing concern.