Nearly 75 per cent of all drug abuse cases in Malaysia involve individuals aged between 15 and 39, raising alarm over the growing impact of narcotics on the country’s most economically productive age group.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed in the Dewan Rakyat that out of 192,852 recorded drug abuse cases nationwide, the overwhelming majority involved youths and young adults within that age range.
“This means those involved are in the productive age group. This category represents almost 75 per cent of all cases,” he said during Minister’s Question Time.
The minister disclosed that current statistics show approximately 560 out of every 100,000 Malaysians are involved in drug abuse, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the country.
According to the latest data, the districts with the highest rates of drug abuse are Pendang, followed by Kuala Krai, Bachok, Besut and Mersing.
Saifuddin said the drug problem is also reflected within the prison system, where narcotics-related offences continue to dominate inmate populations.
“Out of 87,000 prison inmates nationwide, 70 out of every 100 are linked to drug-related offences, either through convictions or while awaiting trial,” he said.
He added that one prison facility in Machang recorded a staggering 100 per cent rate of drug-related cases among its inmates.
The figures were compiled using data gathered from the Health Ministry, the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA), 47 private rehabilitation centres and records from Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.
However, Saifuddin cautioned that the actual number of drug users could be significantly higher, as many cases remain undetected and unreported.
“It would be naive to assume there are only 192,000 cases. The number of hidden cases may be much more serious,” he warned.
In response to the growing crisis, the government has shifted towards a rehabilitation-focused strategy, treating drug dependency as a public health issue rather than solely a criminal offence.
Saifuddin explained that amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act have decriminalised voluntary treatment, allowing individuals seeking help to enter rehabilitation programmes without obtaining a criminal record.
“We no longer view them purely as criminals. Those who voluntarily seek treatment can now receive assistance directly without having to go through complicated procedures,” he said.
Despite the policy shift, the minister stressed that drug abuse remains Malaysia’s “number one enemy”, particularly as authorities battle the rising threat of synthetic drugs, which continue to gain popularity among younger users.
The government said efforts to combat drug abuse will continue through enforcement, prevention, education and rehabilitation programmes as it seeks to curb the growing problem among the nation’s youth.
