KUALA LUMPUR – Establishing a distinction between drug decriminalisation and legalisation is vital to ensure the formulation of proper harm reduction policies aimed at protecting users’ welfare, said a Universiti Malaya (UM) senior lecturer.
Nur Afiqah Mohd Salleh, who is with the varsity’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, stressed that decriminalisation focuses on helping people who use drugs instead of punishing them while legalisation creates a system for legal use.
Decriminalisation, she explained, means that drug use is no longer treated as a crime, but it’s still not allowed. As such, instead of being sentenced to imprisonment, drug users might get a fine or be offered help like counselling or treatment.
“On the other hand, legalisation means drug use is allowed by law and the government regulates how drugs are made, sold and used – like with alcohol or cigarettes,” the Malaysian AIDS Council vice president said when contacted by Scoop.
“As a strong advocate for decriminalisation, I would argue that decriminalisation is not legalization (as the former) does not condone or promote drug use. Instead, it prioritises human dignity and health (by) recognising that substance use is a complex health and social issue rather than a criminal one.”
Nur Afiqah said this in commenting on the recent deaths of four individuals, aged between 20 and 40, who had allegedly purchased the ecstasy drug suspected to have killed them at the Pinkfish Countdown concert in Sunway Lagoon, Subang Jaya.
She added that in the local context where cultural and legal stances on drugs remain a “delicate yet pressing concern”, festival organisers and public health authorities should collaborate to aid event attendees without promoting drug use.
Developing educational materials in partnership with non-governmental organisations specialising in harm reduction can be an effective way to deliver key health and safety messages, she said, noting that these materials can be shared as pre-festival information and on-site resources.
“It is crucial for attendees to recognise the signs of overdose and know how to access on-site emergency help. Messages featuring an emergency helpline can raise awareness and encourage prompt action,” she said.
“While drug-checking services are critically needed, they may take time to become feasible in Malaysia. In the meantime, implementing the above measures would be an essential first step.”
She also reiterated that a blanket ban against ‘party drugs’ may have unintended consequences, saying: “While the intention is to curb drug use, such measures can drive it further underground, making it more challenging for individuals to seek help or access necessary harm reduction services.”
Advocating for a more balanced approach which combines harm reduction, education and accessible support services, she said that such an action plan would be more conducive to addressing the issue in a comprehensive and compassionate manner.
Nur Afiqah also noted that new psychoactive stimulants (NPS) are a growing concern globally as they continue to emerge at an alarming rate.
These substances, she cautioned, can be highly potent and unpredictable in their effects, thereby posing significant challenges to public health and law enforcements as they are designed to mimic the effects of controlled substances but with slight chemical modifications.
“Efforts to address the NPS (issue) include strengthening early warning systems, increasing public awareness and enhancing international cooperation between health agencies and law enforcement.
“However, the dynamic and ever-changing nature of these substances requires flexible and adaptive strategies to protect public health effectively,” she added.
While authorities are still waiting for a toxicology analysis report for confirmation on the deceased partygoers’ cause of death, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said on January 3 that police had suspended permits for concerts in the state.
Concert organisers, he said, have a responsibility to assure authorities that they can prevent drugs from being smuggled into their event venue. – January 9, 2025