Gov't To Look Into Proposal On Free Supply Of Drugs For Addicts

Gomen considering supply free drugs to addicts? The report by BERNAMA began like so ::

The government supplying drugs to addicts for free? It may sound nonsensical, but the Internal Security Ministry is prepared to look at the proposal as part of the measures to tackle the drug addiction problem in the country.

Is this for real? This suggestion of free drugs was made by Baharum Mohamed (BN MP-Sekijang). He further suggested that those addicts given free drugs would then be placed on a remote island to facilitate monitoring. We certainly do have MPs who can think out of the box!
As to why he made the suggestion, the BERNAMA report quoted him as saying this ::

"We notice that the mandatory death sentence on drug traffickers has not been effective in curtailing drug trafficking. This is because drug traffickers want to get rich quickly while the addicts want to die quickly."

i am sure the YB's suggestion is not because he wants to help fulfill the death wish of some of the addicts who want to die quickly and hence the free drugs.
Surprise number 2 came when the Internal Security MINIstry, Parliamentary Secretary, Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop, stated that the gomen is willing to consider the proposal. Surprise number 3 came when he further declared that a study could be carried out based on history where opium shops were licensed in the past to supply opium legally to addicts. Ain't our parliamentarians full of surprises. Has it got to do with their recent salary hike and the need to do something to show that they are worthy of it?
To my simple mind the "free drugs" referred to meant methadone or other similar opiate substitutes which are used in some harm reduction programmes for drug addicts. As far as i am aware, the gomen is not too keen on these methods where free substitute drugs and free needles for exchange are given out under close monitoring.
The Parliamentary Sec appeared very serious when he mentioned the following ::

"Supplying drugs to addicts for free needs to be studied in terms of its pros and cons although there were licensed opium dens in the past.
"This could be used as a guide in making the study. We will submit (the proposal) to the Health Ministry."

i certainly hope the MINIstry of Health does not take him too seriously or else we will be back to the era of opium dens like those of the early 20th century.