THE recent announcement from the Home Ministry about the RM1 billion annual prison cost for drug offences has highlighted a pressing issue – one that, despite the considerable financial investment, is not yielding the desired results.
As a professional and clinician who has been specialising in addiction and mental health treatment for over a decade, I have witnessed firsthand how the country’s addiction treatment framework is struggling to keep up with evolving challenges.
The government has made significant efforts, including sending personnel abroad for training and providing exposure to foreign best practices through various relevant national agencies. Despite this, we continue to see the same problem year after year: addiction is on the rise, treatment outcomes remain inconsistent and costs continue to escalate.
The question we must ask is: why aren’t we seeing meaningful change?
First, we need to acknowledge that our current approach is not working. The drug scene in Malaysia, and globally, has evolved significantly.
Where past issues were largely centred around traditional drugs such as heroin, opiates, cannabis, and alcohol, today’s individuals with substance misuse disorders are using a wide array of synthetic drugs and emerging types of designer drugs.
These substances are chemically engineered, cheap to manufacture, and evolve constantly, making it difficult for treatment providers to stay ahead. By the time these drugs are even identified and understood, new substances appear on the market, exacerbating the problem.
It appears that we may be repeating the same strategies but expecting different results. Now, we find ourselves facing an escalating crisis not only in terms of the psychological and social toll on the public but a deep financial drain as well.
The RM1 billion spent annually is a clear indication that the current model is no longer sustainable. We must admit that more money alone is not the solution – we need a systemic overhaul of how we approach addiction treatment.
One critical issue is the lack of collaboration with the private sector and organisations with clinical expertise. The new drug act, which prioritises decriminalisation is an excellent step forward. However, while more authority in certain hands can be beneficial, it also creates the risk of power abuse.
For this reason, I believe a special task force should be formed, incorporating government bodies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and private-sector expertise, to address the growing crisis.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are key. Despite the government’s recognition of their potential, partnerships with the right agencies have not been consistent.
Organisations like Solace Asia, which have proven success in tackling addiction, are ready to collaborate. However, our repeated efforts to partner with the government have often been declined. This reluctance must change, especially given the scope of the problem.
Addiction is not a local issue that can be resolved by ministries alone. Countries like Oman and the Maldives have recognised the need for external expertise in combating addiction and have formed successful partnerships with locally-bred and recognised organisations like Solace Asia.
Furthermore, we must reconsider our treatment models. Addiction, understood as a disease that requires treatment rather than punishment, should be addressed and treated accordingly, only by the experts.
While Malaysia has made strides in recognising this, our methods may remain rooted in outdated approaches – abstinence and incarceration. Harm reduction or what is better known as sustainable recovery strategies, which have been highly effective in some other countries, should be further explored as part of our treatment strategy.
In sum, Malaysia’s addiction treatment landscape is in urgent need of reform. We must:
– Acknowledge that we are failing—our current efforts have not been successful in tackling the scale of addiction in Malaysia.
– Address the psychological impact—there is a growing loss of public trust, and mental health concerns are on the rise.
– Reallocate financial resources – the RM1 billion spent on prison costs could be better spent on education and public health initiatives.
– Invest in training the right people—we need to train addiction specialists who are properly equipped to handle today’s challenges.
– Revisit our treatment models – addiction is a disease that requires treatment rather than punishment. Sustainable Recovery approaches, which have proven successful in addressing addiction in other countries, must be part of the conversation.
We cannot continue to rely on outdated methods. The time for change is now, and the solution lies in collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to education. – October 8, 2024
Dr Prem Kumar Shanmugam is an accredited clinical psychotherapist, counsellor, and clinical supervisor with over 10 years of experience, as well Solace Group of companies CEO and founder
