PUBLIC SUPPORT Singapore’s approach focuses on harm prevention and policy is anchored on enforcement, education and rehabilitation.  The country has a tough framework of laws and robust enforcement, and invests heavily in upstream preventive education.  Mr Shanmugam highlighted the Drug Victims Remembrance Day introduced in 2024, which is observed every third Friday of May, to remember the people who have been victimised by drugs. On rehabilitation, he said the approach differs for drug traffickers and drug abusers. While Singapore is tough on the former, drug abusers who have not committed any other criminal offence will receive treatment and rehabilitation without a criminal record. “We invest very heavily in our rehabilitation programmes, to help them break the cycle of addiction, and to give them a helping hand to move on with life,” he said. Even with the attitudes towards drugs becoming more tolerant globally, it is a different picture in Singapore.  Citing the results of the 2025 National Drug Perception Survey, Mr Shanmugam said nearly 93 per cent of youth respondents and more than 96 per …