Rapid Situation Assessment of Malaysia 2004

In Malaysia illicit drug use was considered a menacing concern and an enemy of the people. The government has implemented various strategies to tackle drug use with the current goal of achieving a drug free society by 2015. Yet, even with increasing draconian punishments imposed for drug use there was a substantial rise in both new and relapse drug user cases. Of increasing concern was the unresolved HIV infected notifications, mainly found among injecting drug users (IDUs), but also of a potential generalized HIV epidemic occurring within the coming years. This situation assessment of Malaysia, examining drug issues from a public health and public security perspective, shows the complexity, challenges and responses of drug use and HIV/AIDS. This report has been produced on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Malaya Medical Centre, with assistance of the Burnet Institute, The Centre for Harm Reduction.