Children as young as 7 addicted to drug-spiked foods - DPM

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has revealed that foods containing synthetic drugs were being distributed to create a demand, resulting in children as young as seven becoming addicted to them.

He said the National Anti-Drugs Agency had uncovered food items such as sweets and bread, spiked with narcotics.

"When the nervous system, thinking and blood flow are controlled by synthetic drugs, their social lives will be affected, thus having a negative effect on society," added Ahmad Zahid who is also home minister.

He was speaking during the launch of the Islamic Consultative Council's Education and Social Conference at the Malaysian Islamic Training Institute here on Tuesday.

Later at a press conference, Ahmad Zahid said the government viewed moral degradation and other social problems among the younger generation as serious, and was committed in formulating programmes to tackle it.

He said drug abuse and social problems were examples of moral degradation which needed serious attention from all parties.

"We do not have any study on the extent of this situation but the 343,000 children of unclear status, including those of couples who did not register their second marriages last year, need to be given attention."

Ahmad Zahid said the current education system should include spiritual elements. -- Bernama