MALAYSIANS with a drug addiction problem may find themselves with only two options to start afresh. The first is to surrender themselves to the National Anti-drugs Agency (AADK) and the second is to face arrest by the police and consequently, imprisonment.
In Hollywood movies, and from its stars’ real-life stories, we often see that those with drug addiction will admit themselves into a rehabilitation centre.
However, in Malaysia, misusing drugs is a crime, and all drug users are considered criminals. Many experts, including Senator Liew Chin Tong, have been vocal about this issue.
“Perhaps it is time that Malaysia stops the ‘war on drugs. If it is ineffective and unable to stop the use of drugs among Malaysians, then why continue?” he said.
Liew suggested that it may be more effective to look at drug users as those needing medical attention. He said it could be more effective to take the rehabilitation approach, rather than imprisonment.
“Drug addicts, especially those sentenced for minor drug offences who end up in prisons often expose themselves to more serious criminals. From there, they build their network and even learn new techniques. It is almost like the prison is a ‘university, and once they graduate (released), they become more prone to crime than before.
“This does not have to be the case if we take the rehabilitation approach. We attend to their medical needs, help them to move on from their addiction, and we provide counselling and programmes that would help them in the process,” Liew said during a live webinar organised by G25 Malaysia, last month.
On October 6, the director-general of Prison’s Department, Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar, said that there are 11,018 minor drug offenders in prisons in Malaysia.
Liew may have a point.
For a drug addict who is imprisoned, he would have to go cold turkey. It means that he will be experiencing drug withdrawal symptoms without medical supervision, which could cause seizures, convulsions, dehydration, and so on.
When this person is in a prison cell, what help, and support could he get? Other than a prison guard watching over him, the only support he has is probably from other criminals in the prison.
Rehabilitation in Malaysia
Rehabilitation may be the solution for drug addicts in Malaysia. The public may see AADK conducting awareness programmes and promoting deterrence, especially in schools.
However, the agency is more than that. The AADK also has its own enforcement team that could arrest drug addicts if they are tested positive.
According to AADK Sandakan chief officer Aisyah Abdul Karim, the agency would make an arrest based on reports that they receive. These reports being from family members or any public member who lodges a claim that someone is using drugs.
The AADK would then raid the homes of the person, and test if this person is indeed positive with drugs. Once he is tested positive, he will be sent to the AADK detention centre, where he will be evaluated by a medical specialist.
The medical specialist would then determine if the person were to be put under 6(1)(a) or 6(1)(b) of the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983.
If it is under the first, he will be detained in the Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centres (Puspen) in Papar for two years, and if it is the second, he will have to report to the AADK office once a month for the next two years.
Two years in Puspen would be better than prison for a drug addict. Even though they will be detained, they will have the proper attention, care, educational programmes that are designed for drug users.
However, the best option for a drug user is to surrender himself to the AADK; he will be placed in a different facility, named the Cure & Care Clinic (C&C). He will be detained in the facility for only three months, and the personnel will provide educational programmes and counselling for the drug addicts to help them recover.
This is the best-case scenario for a drug addict in Malaysia. While the worst would be getting arrested by the police.
When the police arrest a drug addict, they would use a different section of the Act: Section 15 (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries a punishment of a maximum RM5,000 fine or two years imprisonment if found guilty.
It means that a drug user goes from C&C if he surrenders himself to the AADK, to being imprisoned if he is arrested by the police.
Family members playing a role
Aisyah said that most reports come from family members of the drug user, without their knowledge.
“Typically, it is the parents of the drug user who wish to help their children. They have tried but they failed, and thus left them with no choice but to report their children to us. We would raid their house after the informer confirmed that the suspect is at home, then we will conduct a urine test for drugs and take them to our office if it is positive.
“These parents, even though heartbroken, have made the right choice by contacting us. It is better than to leave their child continuing using drugs, or risk their child getting arrested by the police,” she said.
Aisyah said that AADK Sandakan has been making about 20 arrests per month, and 271 individuals have been arrested from 2019 until February this year.
They cover four districts including Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Tongod, and Telupid.
“We have seen cases where the drug user had developed mental disorder following heavy and long-term use.
“So, if you have a family member who has an addiction issue and wishes to help them, contact the AADK before it is too late,” she said.
After rehabilitation
In Sandakan, Aisyah said they monitor those who have been released from Puspen because they are required to report to them once a month for two years upon their release.
She said that most of them have been doing well, found stable jobs, and are leading normal lives. Some got married and have started a family.
“I am happy to say that most of them have been doing well. Some of them still get in touch with us even after they are not required to report to us.
“In AADK, we wear different hats. We are the teachers when it comes to educating the public, we are the enforcement personnel during raids, and we are the mothers when we care for drug users in our facility,” she said.
Aisyah hoped that people would know that AADK is the best option for drug users and that they would surrender themselves to the agency to get the treatment and rehabilitation that they deserve. – The Vibes, March 24, 2021
