Nearly three-quarters of drug abuse cases in Malaysia involve individuals aged between 15 and 39.
PETALING JAYA: About 70% of drug abuse cases in Malaysia involve the use of syabu and methamphetamine. Universiti Sains Malaysia Centre for Drug Research senior researcher Assoc Prof Dr Darshan Singh Mahinder pointed out that the dangerous misconception that synthetic stimulants are safer than heroin is fuelling their growing use, particularly among young people.
He said the shift away from traditional drugs such as heroin and cannabis has been under way for the past two decades, making amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) the country’s dominant illicit substances.
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He said ATS have gained significant traction among adolescents and young adults, driven partly by their reputation as functional drugs that enhance productivity, improve concentration and elevate mood.
Darshan said the problem is compounded by the growing availability of stimulant-based drugs in liquid form, which can be consumed through electronic cigarettes, making them easier to conceal and more attractive to young users.
Nearly three-quarters of drug abuse cases in Malaysia involve individuals aged between 15 and 39. Darshan attributes this to a combination of social, economic and psychological pressures, including childhood neglect, family conflict, peer influence, poor educational attainment and easy access to narcotics.
He said economic hardship has also emerged as a contributing factor, with some youths turning to drug trafficking to supplement their income.
“Media reports have shown that many individuals arrested for drug trafficking had no criminal convictions, suggesting that financial pressures are pushing some young people into the drug trade.”
Commenting on the government’s move to treat drug users as patients rather than criminals, Darshan said overwhelming evidence supports rehabilitation over punishment.
He stressed that substance use disorder is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that cannot be resolved through imprisonment alone.
“People with substance use disorders may experience multiple relapses during recovery, making continuous treatment and rehabilitation far more effective than punishment.”
Pointing out that the Prisons Department has begun introducing structured rehabilitation programmes, he said rehabilitation delivers better long-term outcomes.
On the Home minister’s acknowledgement that many drug abuse cases go undetected, Darshan said Malaysia’s official statistics, while reliable, do not reflect the full extent of the problem, as they mainly capture those who have been arrested, prosecuted or admitted for treatment, leaving many recreational and habitual users outside the system.
Darshan added that the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) poses one of Malaysia’s greatest drug-related challenges, with many NPS products remaining poorly regulated despite being linked to road crashes and serious health complications.
He also highlighted the increasing availability of NPS and ATS in vape liquid form, adding that fentanyl and synthetic mitragynine – the active compound in ketum – are being illegally sold as vape liquids for their euphoric effects. Darshan added that the growing practice of polysubstance use, involving combinations of NPS, ATS, heroin and cannabis, presents significant challenges for healthcare providers.
