Data on mental health history of arrested drug abusers and breakdown of first-time drug abusers with prior diagnosis of mental health disorders since 2021

Question:

Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) collects data on the mental health history of drug abusers arrested; and (b) in each year since 2021, what proportion of firs t-time drug abusers arrested had a prior diagnosis of mental health disorders, including depression, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, and clinical insomnia.


Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. The Central Narcotics Bureau does not collect data on the mental health history of arrested drug abusers.

2. The Singapore Prison Service assesses all inmates admitted to prison and the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC), including first-time drug abusers, on the state of their physical and mental health. As part of the screening process, the Prison Medical Office r (PMO) will refer to the National Electronic Health Record System to check the inmate’s pre-existing health conditions, including mental health conditions. The inmate is also required to complete a screening questionnaire, for the PMO to gather informatio n on his past medical history and mental wellbeing.

3. As at end-December 2024, about 10% of the total inmate population, which includes inmates in the DRC, were diagnosed with some form of mental health condition.