There
is a growing calls for countries to legalize drugs and to adopt "harm
reduction" approaches, that is, minimise the harms associated with drug
use.
And THAT includes providing clean needles for drug abusers and safe, supervised injection sites.
So taxpayers will be funding some people's drug habit and addiction??
And this would be unacceptable to the majority of Singaporeans, said Mr Shanmugam.
Much of the impetus for harm reduction was coming from countries which were either major drug producers or have been affected by a large number of drugs flowing through their system and they are unable to cope with it anymore.
But Singapore is not in such a position.
Without its strict laws, the country would be swamped with drugs.
The Republic is near the Golden Triangle of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand - the second largest heroin production centre in Asia.
Singapore's standing as an international hub means even drugs from Afghanistan - another major heroin producer - could end up here.
"The death penalty for traffickers, in our experience, has played a key role in combating drug trafficking. This is part of Singapore's framework of laws, coupled with effective enforcement based on rule of law," said Mr Shanmugam.
One of the key drug threats facing the country now is the growing global acceptance of cannabis, which has been "glorified as a 'safe' drug", said Mr Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam rubbished the claim that there was medical basis for using cannabis.
"This is hogwash because this is the (cannabis) industry trying to present an acceptable reason for using cannabis," he said.
He pointed out that IT WAS OFTEN SO-CALLED "HUMAN RIGHTS" GROUPS, INSTEAD OF MEDICAL BODIES, ADVOCATING THE DRUG'S USE.
Instead, the evidence is to the contrary. A study last year by the Institute of Mental Health found that cannabis abusers risked irreversible brain damage and psychiatric disorders. One in two of those who abuse cannabis daily will go on to develop an addiction.
But as cannabis culture was being promoted through foreign films, documentaries and even supported by celebrities, it made the situation "extremely challenging".
More young Singaporeans also travel abroad and may experiment with drugs overseas, before bringing their habits back home.
In Singapore, cannabis has been increasingly ensnaring young, often well-educated, abusers.
Latest statistics from the Central Narcotics Bureau show that it is now the second most-used drug by new abusers, after methamphetamine. More than two-thirds of new abusers were below 30.
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And THAT includes providing clean needles for drug abusers and safe, supervised injection sites.
So taxpayers will be funding some people's drug habit and addiction??
And this would be unacceptable to the majority of Singaporeans, said Mr Shanmugam.
Much of the impetus for harm reduction was coming from countries which were either major drug producers or have been affected by a large number of drugs flowing through their system and they are unable to cope with it anymore.
But Singapore is not in such a position.
Without its strict laws, the country would be swamped with drugs.
The Republic is near the Golden Triangle of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand - the second largest heroin production centre in Asia.
Singapore's standing as an international hub means even drugs from Afghanistan - another major heroin producer - could end up here.
"The death penalty for traffickers, in our experience, has played a key role in combating drug trafficking. This is part of Singapore's framework of laws, coupled with effective enforcement based on rule of law," said Mr Shanmugam.
One of the key drug threats facing the country now is the growing global acceptance of cannabis, which has been "glorified as a 'safe' drug", said Mr Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam rubbished the claim that there was medical basis for using cannabis.
"This is hogwash because this is the (cannabis) industry trying to present an acceptable reason for using cannabis," he said.
He pointed out that IT WAS OFTEN SO-CALLED "HUMAN RIGHTS" GROUPS, INSTEAD OF MEDICAL BODIES, ADVOCATING THE DRUG'S USE.
Instead, the evidence is to the contrary. A study last year by the Institute of Mental Health found that cannabis abusers risked irreversible brain damage and psychiatric disorders. One in two of those who abuse cannabis daily will go on to develop an addiction.
But as cannabis culture was being promoted through foreign films, documentaries and even supported by celebrities, it made the situation "extremely challenging".
More young Singaporeans also travel abroad and may experiment with drugs overseas, before bringing their habits back home.
In Singapore, cannabis has been increasingly ensnaring young, often well-educated, abusers.
Latest statistics from the Central Narcotics Bureau show that it is now the second most-used drug by new abusers, after methamphetamine. More than two-thirds of new abusers were below 30.
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