PETALING JAYA: Screening tests should not serve as a standalone solution towards curbing drug use in Malaysia, say drug policy reform advocates.
Instead, they say a diagnosis should only be made by trained specialists and clinicians who have expertise on the matter.
Consultant psychiatrist Prof Dr Mohamad Hussain Habil said screenings could provide false positives and should never be made as the means to an end.
“Instead, test samples should be sent to labs for further screenings.
“Here, professionals can take a trained look at the samples and provide a more accurate diagnosis,” said Prof Dr Mohamad Hussain.
He stressed that screenings are only part of a wider process that should comprise physical examinations as well as the patient’s history.
Malaysian Expert Guidance on Addiction Association president Assoc Prof Dr Rusdi Abd Rashid said screening tests should only be used for early detection and possible community treatment including those run by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) with proper medical setting, and sufficient resources.
“The severity must be assessed by clinically trained doctors or health staff.
“Those with mild fentanyl dependency may only require community counselling and should never be put in rehabilitation centres or prison as it proves less effective and costs the government more,” said Dr Rusdi, who heads the University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences.
Those with moderate to severe fentanyl dependency, he said, should be referred to hospital for detoxification and monitored in case medication-assisted treatment is needed.
He also said it could be even more difficult to treat cases involving synthetic cannabinoids.
“Depending on AADK alone is hard unless there are referrals to hospitals.
“Another possible solution is collaborating with the Health Ministry to upgrade rehabilitation centres with proper medical teams.”
Drug policy reform advocate Samantha Chong said that while the introduction of detection kits are a positive and timely step in strengthening Malaysia’s ability to detect synthetic drugs, enforcement alone would not solve drug dependence issues among younger people.
“It is an important first step but should not be viewed as a standalone solution.
“We must acknowledge that drugs can often be delivered door-to-door faster than treatment and support services can reach those who need help.
“We also need a more honest conversation about why young people are turning to drugs in the first place,” she said, adding that drug laws and enforcement alone are not the silver bullet.
“Long-term success depends on balancing enforcement with treatment access, school-based prevention programmes, mental health support, public awareness and harm reduction strategies,” she said.
Chong said Malaysia should review its drug laws and policies to ensure they are aligned with current evidence, public health principles and human rights standards.
“Drugs and synthetic substances are evolving faster than authorities can detect and respond to them.
“Yet, Malaysia still relies heavily on drug laws rooted in a colonial-era framework that prioritised punishment and control over prevention, treatment and community well-being,” Chong said.
This comes as AADK said it will deploy new synthetic drug detection kits nationwide from June.
The kits will include screening for fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids which have been increasingly found in vape liquids.
