Authorities in Singapore Resort to AI for Drug Warfare

Authorities in Singapore are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to create innovative tools for testing new synthetic drugs to combat the rise of new psychoactive substances (NPS) globally. These lab-made drugs mimic the effects of traditional drugs like heroin and cannabis, but due to their complex chemical structures and ability to evolve rapidly, they often evade traditional drug tests.

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) highlighted how clandestine laboratories can make minor chemical modifications to create new compounds that skirt existing drug legislation. This constant evolution results in a delay from the detection of a new substance to its legal listing, leaving authorities in a catch-up position. During this lag, enforcement and prosecution cannot occur, exacerbating the issue.

To counter this, Singapore has enacted changes like generic listing and recent amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA), allowing quicker legal action against unlisted substances. Agencies like the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) have developed advanced testing methodologies to identify new substances, while the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) is developing AI tools to analyze and decipher chemical compositions of unknown NPS. These efforts aim to address the growing concern of NPS production and trafficking in the region.