PETALING JAYA: Even though the decriminalisation of drug dependency last year managed to keep many addicts out of prison, much more needs to be done to ensure their successful reintegration into wider society, say authorities and activists.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic) said since the amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 (Act 283) were gazetted in October 2024, the government, through the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), has implemented a new mechanism that prioritises treatment and rehabilitation over imprisonment for drug addiction offences – particularly for first-time offenders and those not involved in drug trafficking.
