PETALING JAYA: The image of a drug addict is not what people may think. There are also working professionals who take synthetic drugs as well, says rehabilitation expert Dr Prem Kumar Shanmugam.
He added that he had treated professionals such as doctors and airline pilots who had turned to synthetic drugs to cope with their work and other daily stresses. Some of them are also college students.
“Synthetic drugs come under many labels, but basically they are made up of methamphetamines and amphetamines. They can cause significant mental health issues over a short duration of being addicted to them. These synthetic stimulants, unlike traditional drugs, disrupt neurochemicals, causing psychotic issues like paranoia and hallucinations.
“Often addicts get a false sense of belief that someone is stalking them or trying to harm them or that their handphones are bugged,” said the founder of a chain of high-end private rehabilitation centres called Solace Asia Addiction Retreat.
Dr Prem Kumar said among the newer narcotics is synthetic cannabis, which mimics the effects of marijuana but is produced entirely from chemicals.
The psychotherapist claimed that the drugs have become popular among students.
“Synthetic cannabis, or “spice”, as it is better known, is also found in liquid form. Secondary school students are consuming it using their vape devices.
“The worst thing about this substance is that it is undetectable in urine tests. Therefore, if we cannot trace the cause of a teenager’s strange behavior, we risk misdiagnosing him as having mental health issues, he said.
Dr Prem Kumar said his centre has treated patients as young as 15. He has also come across a doctor who allegedly died from an overdose of synthetic drugs.
“ln other cases, there were doctors who were ethical enough to give up practising medicine, knowing their addiction could pose a risk to their patients.
“Then we have pilots who are hooked. They do so mainly to stay awake and cope with their work routine,” he added.
“I would consider the current situation of drug abuse in the country as critical,” he added.
He said the authorities should not delay targeted responses to combat the distribution of illegal narcotics, especially synthetic drugs, that can lead to severe social decay, undermine public safety and pose a major threat to the nation’s overall wellbeing.
Correctional social worker and criminologist Associate Prof Dr Norruzeyati Che Mohd Nasir of Universiti Utara Malaysia said easy access and lower cost of synthetic drugs have made them the narcotics of choice compared to traditional drugs.
She added that synthetic drugs cause significant psychological and physical effects. Users may experience anxiety, depression, restlessness, irritability and sleep disturbances. These effects can continue long after the drug’s effects subside, leading to extended periods of discomfort. Other health effects include nausea, excessive sweating, teeth grinding, jaw tension, muscle cramps, tremors, blurred vision, rapid eye movements and dehydration, she said.
“Prolonged use of these substances can lead to addiction and subsequently damage vital organs, particularly the brain and heart, increasing the risk of heart attacks or strokes,” she said.
Norruzeyati said family involvement is crucial in the recovery of a drug user undergoing rehabilitation.
She said families can provide vital support in various ways, seeking treatment options and providing information to agencies or drug rehabilitation officers.
“Recovery is a lifelong commitment. Studies have shown that when families are actively involved, those in the recovery phase are less likely to be hospitalised and more likely to adhere to treatment and are at a lower risk of relapse.,” Norruzeyati said.
The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) reports that, as of September this year, there were nearly 170,000 drug users nationwide, a 31.6% increase from the previous year.
About 70% of them are addicted to the top five synthetic drugs in the black market, namely syabu, ice, pil kuda, yaba pills and ecstasy.
It added that male users vastly outnumbered women, accounting for up to 96% of users.
The agency said over 33% of drug addicts were unemployed, about 25% were self-employed, and 23% were from the private sector, while the rest were made up of students, part-time workers, retirees and civil servants.
According to AADK, 26.2% of them were school dropouts, while 38.1% had completed secondary school at the SPM level.
The highest number of drug users are those aged between 40 and 59, who comprised over 38% of the total. Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah are the states with the highest number of drug users, said AADK.
