Singapore - Singapore - Hair analysis to be used to help detect drug abuse

SINGAPORE: Hair analysis will be used to help detect drug abuse, as part of efforts to enable drug offenders to keep clear of drugs.

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is working with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to introduce hair analysis as a supplementary drug detection tool.

It can detect the presence of drugs up to three months after drug use, compared with urine testing, which has a detection window of about one week.

The move is part of CNB's aim to strengthen its enforcement and intelligence capabilities.

CNB figures showed that 54 per cent more drugs were seized last year compared to 2010. Heroin and methamphetamine (Ice) that were seized in 2011 increased 48 per cent and 151 per cent respectively compared to a year ago.

More drug abusers have also been arrested over the last five years - 3,265 offenders in 2011, up from 2,211 in 2007.

The number of repeat offenders also rose to 2,161 last year, from 1,691 in 2007, while young abusers below 20 years of age who were arrested increased from 79 in 2007 to 257 in 2011.

To tackle the demand and supply of drugs, the control of new psychoactive substances will also be enhanced.

A taskforce formed in October 2011 to combat the rising numbers of repeat and young new drug abusers arrested in Singapore recommended that new substances, which evolve rapidly, be listed on a temporary basis to allow CNB to seize and remove them from circulation earlier.

Currently, it takes six months to incorporate new substances into the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The Ministry of Home Affairs will also work with the Ministry of Law to review and strengthen the enforcement and punishment regime.

The CNB will improve its preventive drug education outreach to students in post-secondary institutions and full-time national servicemen.

The taskforce also recommended that high-risk inmates be segregated from low-risk inmates in the drug rehabilitation centres to lower the risk of negative influences.

The number of halfway-house places will also be increased to strengthen the support system for ex-drug abusers to prevent relapses.

Competency-based training programmes will also be developed to enhance capabilities of social workers and counsellors who work with ex-drug abusers and their families.

- CNA/cc