SINGAPORE – To encourage drug abusers to kick their addiction, all first-time abusers who surrender to the authorities from May 16 will not be sent to a drug rehabilitation centre.Instead, they will be placed on drug supervision in the community with compulsory case management.Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong announced this on May 15 at the Drug Victims Remembrance Day Observance Ceremony at Suntec City.The conditions of the current surrender regime will continue to apply, he said.These include the abuser not having surrendered himself more than twice, and not being wanted by the authorities or under investigation.Mr Tong, who is also Law Minister, said: “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, which will involve psychology-based methods such as goal-setting and family engagement, accompanied by regular hair or urine testing by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).”He added that the number of young abusers has increased, with over half of new abusers arrested aged below 30 in the last three years. Read more