Families, schools and religious bodies must play their part, says DPM
PUTRAJAYA: The government is stepping up both prevention and rehabilitation efforts to tackle Malaysia’s worsening drug crisis, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) stressing the need to strengthen social support systems to reduce addiction rates by 2026.
As chairman of the Cabinet Committee on the Eradication of Drugs (JKMD), he said the rise in drug addiction reflects weaknesses in family, education and community support systems that should have provided protection.
“Drugs threaten health and safety and undermine social structures, human capital development, and national progress. Therefore, the role of key social institutions, such as religious bodies, schools and families, is critical to curbing the worsening drug crisis,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.
Ahmad Zahid highlighted the upcoming launch of the 2025-2027 Anti-Drug Communication Plan, which aims to tackle drug abuse holistically through a comprehensive, targeted campaign to raise awareness, provide intervention, and offer support more effectively across society.
He said the campaign will mobilise mosques, surau and tahfiz institutions as centres for prevention and early intervention, while state religious officers and Islamic non-governmental organisations will be engaged as advocacy partners.
“The breakdown of family institutions has been identified as a key factor in increasing children’s vulnerability to drugs.
“Thus, programmes like the Family of Association and family intervention initiatives are being strengthened,” he said.
“Awareness messages are disseminated via television, radio and documentaries with the core narrative ‘Prevention Starts at Home’, emphasising parents’ roles as models and protectors.
“We want parents to be the primary agents of prevention at home, not relying solely on external agencies,” he explained.
The Education Ministry is collaborating with JKMD to enhance values-based prevention modules and provide training for teachers and counsellors.
This training aims to equip them to identify risky behaviours early and foster resilience among students.
Ahmad Zahid said the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) is concentrating its efforts on youths aged 15 to 39, a demographic that constitutes between 61% and 68% of those struggling with addiction.
The agency has introduced several initiatives, including the Anti-Drug Squad volunteer network, parenting programmes, the Drug-Free Village initiative, and the SMART (Successful, Mature, Active, Rational, Responsible) Programme. These initiatives aim to foster leadership, resilience, and discipline among young people.
“The programmes implemented are tailored to suit interests and needs, incorporating elements of character building, decision-making skills, and other social competencies essential for personal development among adolescents, youth, and adults regardless of gender or background,” he said.
At the same time, the government aims to achieve lower addiction rates and enhanced treatment outcomes by 2026 by expanding access to services and implementing more dynamic and comprehensive treatment methods.
“This expansion of treatment and rehabilitation services aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, which aims to ensure access to pharmacological, psychosocial, rehabilitation and follow-up care interventions for those facing psychotropic substance use disorders,” he said.
“Recovery is not merely about stopping drug use but achieving success in all aspects of life,” he added.
