ADDRESSING DRUG MISUSE AT WORKPLACE SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY FOR EMPLOYERS - AADK

KLANG, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Department heads and employers have been urged to make it a top priority to address issues of drug and substance abuse in the workplace to help create a safe working environment.

National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) director-general (DG) Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said besides reducing the yearly rise in drug misuse cases, these efforts are also capable of curbing workplace issues such as crime, loss of life, property damage, and tarnishing the organisation's image due to the use of illicit substances.

He said that until September, there were 169,691 drug addicts, which was an increase of over 24,000 from 145,526 people recorded in 2023, and 1,035 of them were public sector employees.

“The issue and problems of drug and substance abuse in the workplace needs to be the main agenda of department heads and employers as these are among the factors that can influence the level of occupational safety and health," he said.

“In this matter, AADK always cooperates with its strategic partners in implementing high-impact programmes and ensures that all department heads and employers are always aware and concerned in creating a conducive, safe, and drug and substance abuse-free workplace," he said.

He said this in his speech at the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony for the Drug-Free Workplace (TEKAD) programme between AADK and the Royal Klang City Council (MBDK) here today. The event was also attended by Klang Mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain.

His text was delivered by AADK deputy DG (Operations) Khairul Anwar Bachok.

Ruslin said MBDK is the first local authority (PBT) to provide a written commitment regarding the implementation of TEKAD, thus reflecting the PBT's sensitivity in realising efforts to make the workplace free from drug and substance abuse issues.

He hopes the MBDK’s efforts will serve as an example to other PBTs nationwide to take similar steps towards ensuring that employees in their respective organisations are free from drugs, thereby creating a healthy and safe work environment.

Meanwhile, Abd Hamid said that to implement the programme, they have activated the TEKAD Committee at the MBDK level to combat drug abuse and related crimes among the PBT staff.

He said in efforts to curb drug abuse at the workplace, the MBDK had established cooperation with the AADK since 2016, including conducting 29 surprise urine screening tests at the workplace and holding 32 regular drug prevention briefings for staff.

“From 2016 till now, 10 MBDK employees have been found to be involved in drug abuse, but all of them have fully recovered after attending the AADK-organised rehabilitation programme.

"The council takes this matter seriously and believes that the MoU is a good starting point towards creating a drug-free workplace while simultaneously improving the quality of public services, especially by the MBDK," he added.

-- BERNAMA