National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) DrugFreeSG Forum 2026

Members of the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA),

Distinguished Guests and Partners,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. A very good morning to each and every one of you. So happy to see many of our partners at this important event organised by NCADA, and I am so happy that we are doing this because we are a community, protecting each other and contributing to make Singapore a safer place for our people and the community.

Introduction

2. During the Committee of Supply debate last month, I spoke about the need to strengthen preventive drug education efforts, and how collaboration with partners, schools, and the wider community is essential if we want to keep Singapore safe from drug-related threats. I would therefore like to first, extend my appreciation to NCADA for organising this forum, themed ‘Resilient Youth and Families’, and second, extend my appreciation to you for spending your Saturday morning with us, as we work together as a community of subject matter experts, practitioners and advocates, towards a drug-free Singapore.

3. The aim of this Forum is for us to look at how Singaporeans and our residents perceive the issue of drug abuse, based on the latest National Drug Perception Survey conducted in 2025. We want to also consider the perspectives of researchers and practitioners, and, as a community, consider how we might respond more effectively to the needs on the ground.

Local Drug Perceptions and Trends

4. NCADA has shared the perception survey findings with me, and the results are heartening as it shows that we, as a community, are doing something right. The 2025 survey shows that there remains overwhelmingly strong support for Singapore’s drug-related laws and our vision of a drug-free society. The support extends beyond adults to our youths as well, with attitudes towards drugs amongst adults remaining staunchly conservative at around 90%, and more youths (87.7% compared to 83.2% in 2023) now perceiving drug abuse as harmful.

5. The survey also found that more youths now hold conservative views towards cannabis. This is very welcome news, as it is the first time we have seen a significant improvement in this metric in recent years. Compared to 2015, when only two-thirds of youths agreed that consuming cannabis would harm one’s health, the 2025 survey found that 86.2% of youths now view cannabis negatively.

6. This is especially notable amidst global narratives and rampant misinformation on cannabis. The concerted education and engagement efforts by CNB, NCADA, and all our partners and advocates in the past few years have helped raise awareness of authoritative sources on the impacts of drug abuse. They have also reinforced social norms and benefits of staying drug free. Your work is having an impact, and we are grateful for your support. Thank you very much.

7. However, we must recognise there is always room for improvement. The number of young drug abusers remains a concern, with about half of the new abusers arrested in 2025 below the age of 30. Although conversations at home have been shown to be highly effective, based on the perception survey, almost 2 in 5 youths have yet to receive guidance from their parents or guardians about the dangers of drug abuse. With NCADA’s support, the Singapore University of Social Sciences has conducted a study on the factors that affect parents’ decision to have these conversations with their children. We look forward to discussing some of these challenges later and hopefully find good solutions.

8. Equipped with these insights, I believe we can empower more Singaporeans to contribute meaningfully to the DrugFreeSG cause. It is timely that NCADA has convened this opportunity for community partners to have deeper conversations and engagements.

Community and Partner Support

9. The fight against drugs cannot be done by the Government alone. I am heartened to see that we have participants from all walks of life here today, from youths to parents, social service agencies, counsellors, peer supporters, and educators. I understand that many of you have also implemented your own DrugFreeSG projects to raise awareness of the harms of drugs within your spheres of influence, and help parents and youths develop the skills to have drug awareness conversations.

10. When we share insights and ideas with one another, we understand more about the challenges on the ground and what has been effective. By bringing together diverse expertise and resources, we can create networks of informed individuals who are able to identify warning signs, provide support, and speak up against drugs. Most importantly, we build a culture where everyone can contribute to drug prevention, as active advocates achieving meaningful outcomes. Let us come together to realise our vision of a drug-free Singapore, so that we can keep the younger generation safe from the harms of drugs.

11. Thank you once again for being here, because this certainly is a good cause – a cause that will provide opportunities not only for us, but for many generations to come, so as to keep Singapore safe and secure. I look forward to hearing all your feedback and your views. Thank you.