The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Malaysia is advocating for a paradigm shift in how the country addresses drug offenders and addicts. Health Minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa emphasizes the need to move away from punitive approaches centered around enforcement and imprisonment. Instead, the focus should be on treatment and rehabilitation, recognizing drug addiction as a chronic disease requiring a more compassionate and effective response.
Dr. Zaliha Mustafa aptly characterizes drug addiction as a chronic disease, akin to other medical conditions. This perspective challenges the prevailing notion of treating drug users solely through punitive measures, acknowledging that these approaches often trap individuals in a cycle of legal proceedings, hindering their recovery and reintegration into society.
One of the key concerns raised by the Health Minister is the inappropriateness of using prisons as facilities for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug users and addicts. In these environments, medical practitioners encounter significant challenges in addressing addiction-related issues such as withdrawal symptoms, attraction syndrome, and mental and physical impairments due to drug use. The resulting difficulty in creating effective treatment plans and meeting legal requirements ultimately worsens the prognosis of addiction and leads to legal congestion.
Dr. Zaliha Mustafa underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary and ministerial approach to tackling drug abuse and addiction. Cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs is crucial in addressing this complex issue comprehensively. The Ministry of Health, through programs like the Addiction Psychiatry and Forensic Sub-expertise, is poised to play a pivotal role in the medical treatment and rehabilitation of drug users and addicts.
To bridge the gap between law enforcement and medical care, the Health Minister proposes the establishment of an interactive case referral system. This system would facilitate seamless collaboration between addiction psychiatry, forensic services, and other stakeholders, ensuring that individuals do not drop out of treatment.
Recognizing the challenges of delivering preventive interventions and medical treatments within local communities, Dr. Zaliha Mustafa encourages the exploration of community-based approaches. These approaches have the potential to act as catalysts for positive change, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of treatment and rehabilitation efforts.