Drug Abuse Among Women Rises to 8,926 Cases, AADK Highlights Treatment Barriers

KOTA BHARU, Sept 16 — The number of women detected to be involved in drug abuse in Malaysia rose from 8,638 in 2024 to 8,926 last year, according to the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK).

AADK Director-General Datuk Ruslin Jusoh stated that youth aged between 19 and 39 accounted for the highest number of female cases at 6,193 individuals, followed by adults aged 40 to 59 (2,567) and teenagers (166).

Substance data indicates that amphetamine-type stimulants were the most widely abused drugs among women, affecting 7,588 individuals. This was followed by opiates (762), cannabis (138), psychotropic pills (119), and other substances including ketum and cocaine (319).

Highlighting findings from a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, Ruslin emphasized that female drug users face far more complex hurdles in accessing treatment than their male counterparts.

“Although statistics showed that women accounted for a lower percentage of cases at 4.7 per cent compared with men at 95.3 per cent last year, they often face greater social, financial and emotional challenges in seeking treatment,” Ruslin said. “Society tends to view addiction among women as a greater moral failure compared with men.”

He added that economic dependency and financial constraints further compound the issue, as transport costs to AADK facilities can pose a significant burden. UNODC findings also suggest that women may be prevented from seeking help if their partners are also drug users who control their movement.

To overcome these barriers, Ruslin noted that following amendments to the Drug Dependants and Substance Abusers (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983—which took effect on Aug 22, 2025—women can voluntarily access community-based rehabilitation under supervision or attend Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centres (PUSPEN) free of charge.

Additionally, AADK is deploying its Mobile Treatment and Rehabilitation Without Borders (MRT) services into rural areas to directly address logistical constraints faced by women.

-NMT