1st-time drug abusers who surrender from 16 May will avoid rehab detention: Edwin Tong
Singapore will stop sending first-time drug abusers who voluntarily surrender to rehabilitation centres from 16 May 2026, shifting them to supervised community-based counselling and testing as authorities warn of rising youth drug abuse and increasing drug-related deaths.
- Singapore will replace DRC detention with community supervision for eligible first-time drug abusers who surrender voluntarily.
- Authorities reported rising youth drug abuse, with new abusers under 20 increasing 22 per cent from 2024 to 2025.
- Drug-related deaths rose 15 per cent in 2025 as officials warned against misinformation portraying cannabis as harmless.
SINGAPORE: First-time drug abusers who surrender to the authorities from 16 May 2026 will no longer be sent to a drug rehabilitation centre (DRC).
They will instead be placed on drug supervision within the community, supported by compulsory case management.
Second Minister for Home Affairs and Law Minister Edwin Tong announced the policy change on 15 May 2026 at the Drug Victims Remembrance Day Observance Ceremony held at Suntec City.
Tong said the existing conditions of the surrender regime would continue to apply.
Abusers must not have previously surrendered more than twice and must not be wanted by the authorities or under investigation at the time of surrender.
Under the new approach, abusers will receive regular counselling sessions drawing on psychology-based methods, including goal-setting and family engagement.
“Drug abusers who want to wean off their drug addiction and live a drug-free life will be supported with regular counselling sessions in the community,” Tong said.
They will also be subject to regular hair or urine testing conducted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
Youth drug abuse on the rise
Tong disclosed that the number of young abusers has increased, with over half of all new abusers arrested in the past three years aged below 30.
The number of new abusers under the age of 20 rose by 22 per cent from 2024 to 2025.
The latest CNB statistics showed the youngest drug abuser arrested in 2025 was 12 years old.
In 2024, the youngest arrested was 13.
Cannabis concerns
Cannabis remains a significant area of concern. Seven in 10 cannabis abusers arrested in 2025 were new abusers, and 63 per cent of them were below 30 years old.
Tong said young people were being misled by online content and popular culture into believing cannabis was harmless.
“These are all outright lies,” he said.
Rising drug-related deaths
Tong highlighted 68 drug-related deaths in Singapore in 2025, a 15 per cent increase from the 59 deaths recorded in 2024.
These are cases in which drugs were detected in the deceased during postmortem analysis.
Approximately 30 per cent of drug-related deaths across 2024 and 2025 involved Singaporean abusers who had not previously been detected for drug abuse, Tong said.
He shared two cases to illustrate the dangers of undetected drug use. In the first, a 30-year-old Singaporean man became suddenly agitated while returning home after a night of drinking with a friend.
He suffered a seizure and died in hospital. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and
MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, in his body. Both substances can cause seizures, comas, and cardiovascular collapse.
In the second case, a 31-year-old man who had been playing with his son at home suddenly became aggressive. He struck his father, who had stepped in to protect his grandson.
During a subsequent struggle with neighbours, the man fell to his knees and lost consciousness.
He was later pronounced dead in hospital, with methamphetamine found in his bloodstream.
Drug Victims Remembrance Day
Drug Victims Remembrance Day is observed on the third Friday of May each year to highlight the impact of drugs on abusers and their loved ones.
As part of this year’s campaign, a short film titled Stories, Unfinished was released. It follows a fictional teenager, tracing his life before and after drug abuse.
From 15 to 17 May 2026, The Library of Stories, Unfinished exhibition is being held at the Suntec City atrium. Visitors can engage with real-life accounts and interactive elements drawn from the campaign film.
Calls to remember victims
Tong noted that some local activists hold candlelight vigils for drug traffickers on death row but said such events omit the harm these individuals had inflicted on drug abuse victims and their families.
“When we talk about drugs, we must always remember the victims,” he said.
“Families suffer from the abusers’ drug-induced violence, the consequential fear in their lives being around the abuser, and the grief when they see what their spouse or children have turned into.”
“Their stories must also be told,” Tong added.
