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Synthetic Drugs Pose Alarming Threat in Malaysia, 70% of Addicts Affected
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Health & Science

Synthetic Drugs Pose Alarming Threat in Malaysia, 70% of Addicts Affected

From Utusan Malaysia · (10m ago) Malay Critical tone

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Synthetic drugs are a growing concern in Malaysia, with 70% of addicts entangled with these substances.
  • Drug syndicates are increasingly using e-cigarette or vape liquids as a new medium for drug abuse, making detection difficult.
  • The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) is implementing proactive strategies, including a comprehensive review to formulate a new national drug policy.

Malaysia is facing a deeply concerning escalation in the prevalence of synthetic drugs, with alarming statistics revealing that 70% of individuals struggling with addiction are now entangled with these potent substances. The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) has identified a disturbing trend: drug syndicates are ingeniously adapting their methods, leveraging the popularity of e-cigarettes and vape liquids as a novel delivery system for illicit substances.

This trend is very worrying because prohibited substances are mixed into vape liquids, making detection difficult.

— Datuk Roslin JusohHead of the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), highlighting the challenge of detecting drugs in vape liquids.

This shift presents a formidable challenge to detection and intervention efforts. The ease with which these drugs can be mixed into vape liquids means that the substances are often harder to identify through conventional means. This insidious tactic significantly broadens the scope for abuse, particularly among the youth demographic, who are often at the forefront of adopting new technologies and trends.

It also opens up wider opportunities for abuse, especially among young people.

— Datuk Roslin JusohAADK Head on the implications of drug syndicates using vape liquids.

Magic mushroom, ketamine, and fentanyl have been identified as the synthetic drugs of choice among addicts. The AADK acknowledges the severe health and safety risks associated with these substances, each possessing distinct and dangerous effects. In response, the agency is adopting a proactive stance, reinforcing its strategies for treatment, prevention, and continuous monitoring of emerging trends to effectively curb the spread of these harmful substances.

AADK is taking a proactive approach, including strengthening treatment, prevention, and monitoring of current trends to curb the spread of these dangerous substances.

— Datuk Roslin JusohDescribing the agency's strategy to combat synthetic drug abuse.

Looking ahead, the AADK is undertaking a comprehensive study, in collaboration with universities, to draft a new National Drug Policy. This policy is expected to be finalized by mid-year and will guide the nation's drug control efforts for the next five years. It aims to provide a more holistic approach, encompassing program strategies, government initiatives, and adaptations to the increasingly complex global drug landscape. From a Malaysian perspective, this is not just a public health crisis but a national security issue, demanding a robust and forward-thinking policy framework to protect its citizens, especially its youth, from the pervasive threat of synthetic drugs.

We are currently in the study phase in cooperation with universities to formulate a National Drug Policy that is more comprehensive and relevant to the current situation.

— Datuk Roslin JusohAADK Head on the process of developing a new national drug policy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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