[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_type=”circular” background_color_gradient_direction_radial=”top left” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89) 30%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 80%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89)” background_color_gradient_start_position=”30%” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_color_gradient_end_position=”80%” background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/drugbanner3.png” parallax=”on” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-38px||188px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”1vw|1px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(10,10,10,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”204px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”55px|48px|55px|48px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”66px” text_line_height=”75px” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”31px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.3em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Forging The Will To Defeat Pills<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”-9px|129px|||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”30px|0px|||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”17px|63px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In the light of changing attitudes towards drugs in Singapore, <\/span>Lee Zhi Ying <\/b>speaks to youths about their outreach efforts to achieve a drug-free Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-183px||-385px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”27px|0|27px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”0px|19px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked_phone=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-40px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”15px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.5em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n BY <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px|10px|-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px||0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A nationwide survey commissioned by the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) in 2017 found that one in five youths held the view that cannabis \u2014 also known as marijuana or weed \u2014 should be legal in Singapore. This reflects the rising trend of youths with more liberal attitudes toward drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam<\/span> noted that this spike is a growing concern <\/span>during a drug enforcement workplan seminar at the Home Team Academy on May 24, 2019.<\/span> As such, the <\/span>Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) intend to reach out to youths to support the government’s drug policies<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Cautioning against the softening stance towards drugs, the CNB has roped in youths as Anti-Drug Advocates (ADAs) to spread anti-drug messages and generate support within their social circles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Javier Ng, 18, a second-year Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central student, has been an ADA with CNB since July 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n While Javier did not dabble with drugs himself, he was surrounded by friends who indulged in the highs of drugs. \u201cDuring my secondary school days, I was quite rebellious and often hung out with the wrong company. I had friends who offered me [drugs] but fortunately, I turned them down,\u201d Javier recalled.<\/span><\/p>\n His passion for fighting drug abuse stemmed from witnessing the toll of drug abuse on his relatives. He saw how his aunt\u2019s drug consumption habits upended her life and affected her loved ones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy aunt was particularly violent towards her family, asking for money to purchase drugs. Due to her drug addiction, she couldn\u2019t look after her children who were very young back then,\u201d Javier said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Seeing the extent of the damage drugs can impose on one\u2019s life, Javier was determined to be a catalyst for change.<\/span><\/p>\n Since volunteering with CNB as an ADA, Javier has spearheaded various projects to promote anti-drug awareness targeted at youths.<\/span> He took it upon himself to lead a self-initiated anti-drug public awareness project titled #YourLifeIsInYourHands. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/drugs-1.png” alt=”A fitness mat with a laptop showing Chloe Ting’s ab workout for people who are trying to stay fit during the circuit breaker period which was set in order to contain the spread of Covid-19 cases in Singapore.” title_text=”rhw joshua simon” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ module_alignment=”center” height_tablet=”” height_phone=”” height_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_height=”325px” module_alignment_tablet=”” module_alignment_phone=”” module_alignment_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” min_height=”33px” custom_margin=”-26px|||||” custom_padding=”11px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Javier (far right) giving a briefing to his team of volunteers before distributing the hand sanitisers. Image from the Institute of Technical Education Instagram page.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px|10px|-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px||0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n On Mar 30, 2019, Javier and his team distributed customised hand sanitisers to the public at Orchard Road.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/drug2.png” alt=”A fitness mat with a laptop showing Chloe Ting’s ab workout for people who are trying to stay fit during the circuit breaker period which was set in order to contain the spread of Covid-19 cases in Singapore.” title_text=”rhw joshua simon” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ module_alignment=”center” height_tablet=”” height_phone=”” height_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_height=”285px” module_alignment_tablet=”” module_alignment_phone=”” module_alignment_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” min_height=”33px” custom_margin=”-26px|||||” custom_padding=”11px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Each hand sanitiser carried the message \u201cYour Life is in Your Hands\u201d. Image from the Institute of Technical Education Instagram page.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Explaining that the hand sanitisers symbolised cleanliness, Javier shared that the project aimed to reach out to youths and boost their awareness of the harm from drugs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite CNB\u2019s efforts to tackle the scourge of drugs, Javier shared that many youths still hold the belief that drugs are not really harmful or addictive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMisconceptions about drugs can lead them to be curious and could cause them to try drugs, thinking that they will not get addicted,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n He added that the media fuels youths\u2019 misperceptions about drugs. \u201cNowadays, most of the youths are on social media which largely exposes them to false information about drugs such as cannabis,\u201d Javier explained.<\/span><\/p>\n To counter misinformation on drug abuse among youths, the CNB has been ramping up their efforts for partnerships with schools in recent years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Spacebar Digital, a student agency from Ngee Ann Polytechnic\u2019s Diploma in Mass Communication course, launched #YouUseYouLoseSG, a social media marketing campaign supported by CNB as part of their final-year project.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe campaign name #YouUseYouLoseSG exercises double-meaning \u2014 one being paralleled to our creative direction; using the idea of games to convey our key messages while the other conveys how one should not consume drugs or risk losing out on many opportunities in life,\u201d said Sonia Tan, 19, account director of Spacebar Digital.<\/span><\/p>\n The two-month-long campaign from Jul 6 to Aug 31 aims to dispel the belief that taking drugs is part of living life to the fullest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe want to highlight the full potential of life when one leads a drug-free lifestyle by shifting the mindset from \u2018trying drugs at least once will let me have a taste of life\u2019 to one that believes that a drug-free life is much more fulfilling,\u201d <\/span>the final-year Mass Communication student<\/span> said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Sonia Tan, 19″ job_title=”Account Director of Spacebar Digital” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to highlight the full potential of life when one leads a drug-free lifestyle by shifting the mindset from \u2018trying drugs at least once will let me have a taste of life\u2019 to one that believes that a drug-free life is much more fulfilling,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Sonia conceded that the challenge to convey anti-drug messages in Singapore is increasing, especially among the youths.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTo ensure maximum relatability to youths, we created our anti-drug messages through a light-hearted manner through the use of a retro-gaming theme,\u201d Sonia added.<\/span><\/p>\n Being fully digital, the campaign released a gamut of content which seeded anti-drug messages on its social media pages, namely Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
LEE ZHI YING<\/strong><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
Aug 22, 2020<\/h5>\n