The Government launched a nationwide Drug Prevalence Survey will provide comprehensive information on drug use across all parts of the Maldives, according to Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan.

Responding to a question from North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim, the Minister said the survey is underway with support from the Maldives Police Service, the National Drug Agency (NDA), and the Drug Court. He added that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has also been requested to contribute technical expertise.

According to Minister Ihusaan, the survey will help identify the types of drugs in circulation, their patterns of use, and the scale of the problem nationwide. He highlighted the health risks associated with drug abuse, including the spread of communicable diseases, and noted that the NDA is providing psychiatric evaluations, treatment plans, and medical support in collaboration with IGMH and Hulhumalé Hospital.

The survey incorporates data from drug assessments, police cases, and test reports, alongside research into the link between substance use and psychiatric disorders. Once completed, the Minister said, it will deliver the most detailed analysis yet of drug use in the Maldives.