Women's drug abuse cases rise by 3.3pct last year

Kota Bharu: The number of women in Malaysia detected for drug abuse increased by 3.3% last year, reaching 8,926 cases from 8,638 in 2024, according to National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh. The largest group of women affected were those aged 19 to 39, comprising 6,193 cases, followed by adults aged 40 to 59 with 2,567 cases and teenagers with 166 cases.

Amphetamine-Type Stimulants were the most commonly used illicit drugs among women, with 7,588 individuals, followed by opiates (762), cannabis (138), psychotropic pills (119), and other drugs like kratom and cocaine (319).

Ruslin revealed that women faced more complex challenges than men in accessing treatment, with a UNODC report highlighting that they made up 4.7% of the cases compared to 95.3% for men. The barriers women faced often included systemic and emotional factors, with society viewing drug addiction among women as a greater moral failure compared to men.

Women also had limited financial resources and were often economically dependent on their partners, adding to the burden of treatment costs such as transportation to NADA facilities.

Under the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983, amended on Aug 22, 2025, women can now seek voluntary community-based treatment under a Rehabilitation Officer or receive free treatment at the Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen). Additionally, AADK's Borderless Rehabilitation Treatment Mobilisation (MRT) service was introduced to assist women in rural areas, addressing logistical constraints they often encounter.