Health approach to drug use

IN a statement made to the press recently, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Malaysia had lost its war on drugs. This was in response to the media’s request for comments on the “decriminalisation” of drugs.

I believe the journalist had inadvertently used the term “decriminalisation” when he or she meant the “legalisation” of drug use. The follow-up comment by the director of Narcotics of the Royal Malaysia Police has further given the public a wrong impression due to the use of incorrect terminology.