It is against the law for Singaporeans and PRs to take drugs overseas. Other methods, such as a hair test or urine test, can also be used to test for drug consumption.
Assoc Prof Faishal told the House that CNB and the police also began trialling joint roadblock operations this month to detect drug abusers. Saliva test kits will be used at these operations.
Saliva testing takes an average of 10 minutes and those who test positive will undergo further investigations.
CONCERNS OVER YOUTH DRUG USE
Assoc Prof Faishal reiterated that while the drug situation in Singapore “remains under control”, the authorities are concerned about drug use among youths, with about half of new abusers arrested last year aged below 30.
“While most youths support a tough stance against drugs, some younger Singaporeans take a more permissive attitude, especially towards cannabis,” he added.
CNB revealed earlier this month that the number of cannabis abusers aged below 20 who were arrested increased threefold from eight in 2021 to 26 in 2022.
They formed about a fifth of all youth drug abusers arrested in 2022.
Methamphetamine remained the most abused drug in Singapore last year, with the 1,445 abusers arrested making up 51 per cent of the total number.
CNB will work with the Ministry of Education to ensure all primary and secondary schools conduct at least one preventive drug education programme annually.
Secondary schools that did not hold a preventive drug education engagement in the last two years will also conduct at least one such engagement this year.
In terms of new psychoactive substances, which produce the same or similar effects as controlled drugs, Assoc Prof Faishal noted that MHA proposed amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act last week to combat the growing use of psychoactive substances.
Under the new proposed framework, substances will not be controlled based on their chemical structure, but instead on their capacity to produce a psychoactive effect.
“This will empower CNB to take swift enforcement actions against illicit activities involving such psychoactive substances,” said Assoc Prof Faishal.
Offenders who possess a large amount of certain controlled drugs, such as cocaine or cannabis, may also face more severe punishments if the legislative amendments are passed in Parliament.