KUALA LUMPUR: The growing abuse of synthetic drugs among young Malaysians has become a serious mental health and public health crisis, says Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic).
Citing concerns raised by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Lee said synthetic drugs now account for 73% of drug abuse cases in the country, with a rising number of young users suffering from mental health disorders, particularly through the misuse of vape devices.
He warned that the trend should serve as a wake-up call, as synthetic drugs are no longer merely a drug abuse issue but a wider social crisis affecting public health, mental well-being and community safety.
“Synthetic drugs are manufactured using dangerous chemical compounds that are often far more potent and unpredictable than conventional drugs. Their effects on the brain can be devastating,” he said when contacted on Sunday (July 5).
Lee said frequent use of synthetic drugs could damage brain function and alter normal chemical activity, increasing the risk of severe mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis and violent behaviour.
In some cases, he added, prolonged abuse could also lead to long-term schizophrenia-like symptoms.
He said many of these cases involved what medical experts describe as a “dual diagnosis”, where an individual suffers from both substance use disorder and a mental illness at the same time.
“Such patients are much more difficult to treat because both conditions interact and reinforce one another. If the addiction is not addressed, mental illness becomes harder to manage. Untreated mental illness often leads to continued drug dependence,” he said.
Lee also expressed alarm over the use of synthetic drugs through vape devices, saying many young people may not realise that what they are inhaling could contain dangerous substances capable of rapidly impairing judgment, damaging the brain and triggering serious psychiatric conditions.
He said that the discreet appearance of vape devices also made enforcement and detection more difficult.
Calling for a comprehensive national response, Lee said the issue must be tackled collectively by government agencies, schools, parents, healthcare professionals, community organisations and the private sector.
Among the measures proposed were intensified enforcement against the manufacture, trafficking and online sale of synthetic drugs, including those concealed in vape liquids and cartridges, as well as tighter border controls to prevent the smuggling of drug precursors.
He also urged the authorities to expand public education campaigns in schools, colleges and universities to raise awareness of the dangers of synthetic drugs and drug-laced vape products.
Lee said mental health screening should also be increased for those undergoing rehabilitation so that individuals with dual diagnosis could receive integrated treatment rather than separate interventions.
He also called for closer collaboration between AADK, the Health Ministry, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and mental health professionals to ensure better coordinated care and rehabilitation.
At the same time, he said parents and teachers should be equipped with the knowledge to recognise early warning signs of drug abuse and mental health problems before they escalate.
Lee also urged the government to review existing laws relating to vape products to ensure they cannot be exploited as a delivery system for dangerous synthetic substances.
“Drug rehabilitation today must go beyond treating addiction alone. It must also address the psychological and psychiatric consequences of synthetic drug use,” he said.
Without integrated treatment, he warned, many recovering addicts would remain vulnerable to relapse, self-harm, violence, homelessness and involvement in crime.
Lee said the Alliance for a Safe Community fully supported AADK’s efforts in highlighting the growing threat and stressed that preventing synthetic drug abuse should not be seen solely as a law enforcement responsibility.
“It is a shared national responsibility involving families, schools, healthcare providers, employers, religious organisations and every member of society,” he said.
“Malaysia cannot afford to lose another generation of young people to synthetic drugs and preventable mental illness. We must act decisively, collectively and urgently before this crisis grows beyond our control," he added.
