Kuala lumpur: Synthetic drug abuse in the country continues to present a worrying situation, with 141,817 cases recorded last year, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said. He also noted that 145,526 cases were recorded in 2023, followed by 192,857 cases in 2024.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution highlighted that synthetic drugs are the most widely abused substances in the country, accounting for about 70 percent of all drug abuse cases, particularly involving Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS). This statement was made during Ministers' Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat in response to a query from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) regarding synthetic drug addiction cases from 2023 to date and the government's strategy to address the rise in such drugs, including fentanyl.
Saifuddin Nasution stated that data from the Ministry of Health (MOH), the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centres (Puspen), and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) revealed a concentration of cases in several states, with the east coast being among the worst affected. He emphasized that in the east coast corridor, the issue has shifted from cannabis, heroin, ketum, and morphine to ATS, particularly methamphetamine or syabu. Recent operations against adulterated vapes have uncovered the presence of fentanyl, a substance far more potent than morphine and capable of causing death.
The minister noted that fentanyl has been added to the list of scheduled substances through amendments to relevant drug laws, allowing for enforcement action against its abuse. Although the spread of fentanyl has not reached a serious level compared to other synthetic drugs, its presence is being detected.
He reported that about 192,000 cases of drug abuse involving all types of drugs have been recorded so far this year, equating to 560 cases for every 100,000 Malaysians, with nearly 75 percent involving individuals aged between 15 and 39. Pendang recorded the highest rate at the district level, followed by Kuala Krai, with Bachok, Besut, and Mersing also ranking among the most affected areas.
Saifuddin Nasution noted that drug-related cases are prevalent in prisons, with approximately 70 out of every 100 inmates linked to such cases, whether convicted or on remand. In prisons like Machang, nearly all cases are drug-related. The AADK has adopted various approaches, including community-based prevention, education programmes in educational institutions, and family and workplace intervention programmes, alongside working with the PDRM and the Customs Department on enforcement.
In response to a supplementary question from Khoo about Malaysia potentially becoming a transit hub or distribution centre for drugs, Saifuddin Nasution acknowledged that technological advances have facilitated the purchase of drugs online, posing additional challenges and risks in enforcement.