The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition is advising the public to exercise caution regarding a social media post in circulation that contains false and misleading information about a newly emerging drug threat in country.
To date, there has been no official evidence or confirmation that this alleged threat exists, the Ministry said.
“Vigilance is encouraged by all members of the public, particularly as new recreational substances, often targeting the youth, continues to be developed and marketed,” the Ministry stated in a press release. “The public is urged to exercise caution by verifying and confirming through reliable and official sources before accepting or sharing information. The circulation of unverified information can cause unnecessary concern, confusion and alarm.”
The Ministry encourages the public to:
- Verify information through credible and official sources before accepting it as factual.
- Rely on official communications from the relevant authorities for accurate and current information.
- Exercise responsible social media use by ensuring that information shared with others is credible and verified.
“The Ministry of Health recognizes that there is a quickly evolving environment of recreational drug use and as such, [remaining] alert and responsive to emerging trends and potential threats is of high priority,” the release added. “The relevant agencies are actively implementing programmes targeting key priority groups including students and parents, to aid in building awareness and skills for increased resilience.”
The Ministry of Health through the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat and the National Early Warning System for New and Emerging Drugs remains committed to supporting organisations to build awareness and education on substance use and emerging drug-related concerns.
Members of the public are encouraged to immediately report any issues or concerns regarding suspected emerging drug threats to the Ministry for prompt and appropriate follow-up action.