AADK Says Nearly 70 Per Cent of Youth Involved in Synthetic Drug Abuse
Drug Addiction Among Young Malaysians Becoming Increasingly Serious, Says Ruslin Jusoh
PETALING JAYA — Agensi Antidadah Kebangsaan (AADK) has revealed that nearly 70 per cent of youths aged between 19 and 40 in Malaysia are involved in synthetic drug abuse.
Director-general of Agensi Antidadah Kebangsaan, Ruslin Jusoh, said the trend indicates that drug addiction is becoming increasingly serious among the younger generation.
According to him, statistics up to 2025 showed that around 191,000 individuals had been arrested nationwide for various drug-related offences.
However, he believes many more individuals involved in drug abuse have yet to be detected by authorities.
“About 70 per cent of addiction cases among youths are believed to be linked to synthetic drugs, which are now becoming easier to obtain,” he said.
He made the remarks while speaking at the Jelajah Aspirasi Bebas Dadah 2026 programme at the Kampung Kemensah Community Hall in Ulu Klang, Gombak today.
Ruslin Jusoh said AADK is currently monitoring approximately 50,000 individuals under supervision while nearly 5,000 addicts are undergoing rehabilitation treatment at centres nationwide.
According to him, efforts to combat drug abuse cannot rely solely on enforcement agencies such as the police and AADK.
Instead, he stressed that communities, parents, youths and local leaders must all play a more active role in prevention efforts.
He also urged parents to pay closer attention to behavioural changes among their children as many young addicts reportedly become involved due to weak family supervision.
Among the early warning signs highlighted were staying out late at night, skipping school, refusing to work and displaying significant emotional or behavioural changes.
More worrying, he said, is the fact that some addiction cases now begin as early as 12 years old, including the use of vape liquids mixed with illegal substances commonly referred to as “mushroom”.
According to Ruslin Jusoh, the growing trend of drug-laced vape use among teenagers is becoming increasingly concerning because such substances are easier to obtain and harder to detect.
He expressed hope that local communities would play a stronger role in fighting drug abuse while working closely with AADK and local authorities.
“I hope Kampung Kemensah can become an example of a drug-free community through continuous cooperation between residents and relevant agencies,” he said.
-wilayah.com.my
