KUALA LUMPUR: Close to 200,000 drug abuse and addiction cases were recorded last year, says the Home Ministry.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a total of 192,857 cases were recorded, according to statistics from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK).
This equates to 566 cases per 100,000 residents, with Malaysia's population standing at over 34 million.
The top five states with the highest cases of drug offenders and abuse were Kelantan (1,130 per 100,000), Terengganu (974 per 100,000), Perlis (965 per 100,000), Kedah (898 per 100,000), and Penang (803 per 100,000).
“AADK has also made early plans to increase its workforce in line with the changing trend of drugs in the country alongside recent amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 (Act 283).
“The additional manpower requested aligns with the increased complexity of AADK’s role to provide treatment and translations within institutions and communities in tandem with enforcement and prevention measures,” he said in a written parliamentary reply on Thursday (Feb 27).
Saifuddin Nasution was replying to a question by Mohamad Shafizan Kepli (GPS-Batang Lupar) about drug abuse statistics and whether there were plans to further empower AADK.
On a related matter, Saifuddin Nasution said 72,305 drug dependants underwent community treatment and rehabilitation programmes last year.
Meanwhile, 10,319 underwent the programme at institutions.
“Under both programmes, as many as 2,375 voluntarily sought treatment from the AADK through its various facilities,” he said.
This was in response to V. Ganabatirau (PH-Klang) who asked whether any drug dependants voluntarily sought treatment from the AADK following amendments to Act 283.
Amendments to Act 283 were passed in the Dewan Rakyat in July last year.
The amendments include a transition phase where drug dependants will be sent for rehabilitation instead of imprisonment.
At a press conference following the amendments being passed, Saifuddin Nasution also said the decriminalisation aspect can further encourage those entangled with substance abuse to come forward voluntarily for rehabilitation.
