Zahid: Drug abuse at alarming levels

The Star

19-05-2025

Public safety, economic stability and M'sia's social structure on the line
PUTRAJAYA: Drug abuse in Malaysia has reached a critical level and now poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and the country's social structure, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( pic ).
The Deputy Prime Minister said there were 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, with 61% of them aged between 15 and 39, as of 2024.
'Of this number, 96% are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,' he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse yesterday, Bernama repor­ted.
Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 people, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965) and Kedah (898).
To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the committee had approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025-2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach.
Ahmad Zahid said the plan focuses on ­promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness and deli­vering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies – towards a national anti-drug movement.
To enhance treatment and reha­bilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency has adopted a Single Point Entry approach to expedite screening and intervention for detai­n­ees without waiting for pathology results.
'As of April 5, a total of 261 detainees had undergone evaluation at the DAC in Kuala Muda, Kedah,' he said.
Ahmad Zahid also highlighted new concerns involving mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psycho­active substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, based on findings by the National Poison Centre.
'These substances pose a serious risk to children and youth, and require immediate and more aggressive enforcement action,' he said.
Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will utilise the Crime Data Network Ana­ly­sis system to better track drug- related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies.
He stressed that the government remains firm in implemen­ting the National Drug Policy, which covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement.
'The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility that requi­res active involvement from all levels of society – including the public and civil society groups.
'To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation's number one enemy,' he added.