The Gen XY Lifestyle
Singapore Observes Inaugural Drug Victims Remembrance Day
Singapore marked its inaugural Drug Victims Remembrance Day on 17 May 2024.
The Drug Victims Remembrance Day, henceforth observed on the third Friday of May each year, serves as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching harms of drugs.
It underscores the suffering endured by families and loved ones of drug abusers, particularly children, and the drug abusers themselves.
The day is a collective stand as a community for a robust response to the drug problem faced by Singapore and communities worldwide.
The IMC on Drug Prevention for Youths aims to foster empathy, understanding, and support for those grappling with drug abuse through public education and community engagements held in conjunction with Drug Victims Remembrance Day.
From 17 to 19 May, an exhibition at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza took visitors on an immersive and thought-provoking journey. The exhibition featured a life-sized mock-up of a home grappling with the effects of drug abuse and multi-sensory, interactive displays that fostered awareness and self-reflection on the global and local drug situation and the repercussions of drugs on the family and society.
Visitors had the opportunity to witness firsthand the toll that drug abuse takes on homes and hearts and learned how to protect themselves and their families. A candlelight display at the exhibition remembered the victims of drug abuse, not only from Singapore but from all over the world. Each candle symbolised a thousand lives lost annually to drug abuse.
To date, more than 84,515 pledges have been made online and during the event, committing to keep our communities safe from drug abuse.
On 18 May, visitors engaged with former drug abuser, Bruce Mathieu, and friend of former drug abusers, Tommy Wong, through a panel session moderated by local artistes, Annette Lee and Glenn Yong. Their candid testimonies provided a deeper understanding of the harm and hurt that drug abuse had caused them and their loved ones.
The exhibition will make its way across the heartlands of Singapore from 24 May to 21 July 2024. The roving exhibition will include a Sensorial Drug Panel where visitors can see the physical forms of various substances, including real cannabis exhibits, and learn to identify them to better protect themselves and their loved ones.
| Suntec City | 14 June – 16 June 2024 |
| Compass One | 21 June – 23 June 2024 |
| JEM | 28 June – 30 June 2024 |
| Northpoint City | 5 July – 7 July 2024 |
| Jurong Point | 12 July – 14 July 2024 |
| Heartbeat @ Bedok | 19 July – 21 July 2024 |
The public is encouraged to memorialise their commitment to keeping themselves, families, and communities safe from drug abuse by visiting the roving exhibition and submitting pledges to stay drug-free on-site. For those who are not present physically, they can make promises online and have their resolve etched digitally onto the pledge wall.
Pictures courtesy of Drug Victims Remembrance Day.
