Dr Loo Choon Yong

President SANA

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am happy to be here this evening to celebrate SANA’s 25^th anniversary. SANA has come a long way since its beginnings in 1973. I am especially impressed you now have a pool of more than 1,300 volunteers, with some having served for more than 20 years. I am grateful to all of you for sacrificing your precious time to help those who have lost their way find their footing and become useful members of society. You have played a vital part in keeping the drug situation under control.

Just over twenty-five years ago the drug problem, growing off the hippie culture, was threatening to get out of hand. The Government decided to get tough. We formed the Central Narcotics Bureau in 1972. The following year, SANA was formed. We also brought in the tough Misuse of Drugs Act to replace the outdated Dangerous Drug Ordinance. This set the stage for many enforcement measures for which we are well known now. On its part SANA went on to work with agencies like the National Council Against Drug Abuse, CNB, Prisons, Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises, grassroots organisations and self-help groups to rehabilitate abusers and to keep others from becoming victims of drug abuse.

Singapore may not yet be free of drugs now. But we do not have any black areas - we do not have a situation where strangers approach you along side-streets and ask, "Would you like to buy this?" We have eliminated this.

As we mark the 25^th year of SANA, one of our greatest challenges is to help out-of-school youths steer clear of drugs. These youths carry the highest risk of falling into the drug trap. They are also the most difficult to reach out to. We need to double our efforts to get through to them.

As the leading anti-drug non-governmental organisation, SANA is placed ideally to reach out to them. It has the experience, the organisational set-up and grassroots support to make an impact on the out-of-school youths. SANA can help them beat the temptation of drugs and integrate into the mainstream society through work, education or other activities. I urge SANA on to take on this crucial and important role, and to start immediately to organise suitable programmes targeted at these youths.

Let us all continue to work towards a drug-free Singapore. I wish SANA a happy 25^th Anniversary, and all of you, an enjoyable evening. Keep up the good work.

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