PETALING JAYA: The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), which would be responsible for Malaysia’s new approach to drug and substance abuse, should remain under the Home Ministry despite calls for it to be moved to the Health Ministry, says a former director of the agency.
Datuk Abd Halim Mohd Hussin said AADK is capable of shifting from an enforcement and prevention-heavy approach to one focused on rehabilitation, provided that it makes several critical changes.
This includes making sure that its leadership and top management are professionals and that it invests in treatment infrastructure and training its staff, he added.
“Their job scope entails multitasking in all the areas. The plan to decriminalise drug abuse is an opportunity for AADK to strengthen its organisational structure. It must be led by professionals and not administrators.
“Treatment is also more cost- effective than non-treatment. Investing in treatment strategies promises good returns on investment,” Abd Halim noted.
He said there must also be a mechanism to recognise and work with private and non- government treatment centres.
“We must also establish a career path that reflects the professionalism of anti-drug officers,” said Abd Halim, who is now president of the Counselling Association of Malaysia.
His comments followed calls from civil society and parliamentarians for AADK to be moved from under the Home Ministry to the Health Ministry, in line with the government’s efforts to decriminalise drug possession and abuse.
Under changes to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983, AADK will be tasked with determining whether someone is drug or substance-dependent, and deciding where they can go for treatment.
Drug reform advocates have argued that AADK should be moved to the Health Ministry, which they said has the right mindset and expertise to treat substance abuse as a health condition rather than a national security issue.
Abd Halim, however, disagreed, saying that drug and substance abuse should still remain under the Home Ministry as there were security aspects to the problem.
“Apart from being a health issue, drug addiction is also a security issue. Our children become dependent on drugs after consuming and obtaining them illicitly.
The government must take a multidimensional approach in treatment and rehabilitation by applying both psychosocial and pharmacotherapy methods, he added.
“For that matter, it is timely with the newly amended Bill for the government to consider placing medical doctors in treatment and rehabilitation centres,” said Abd Halim.
