Kuala lumpur: Synthetic drugs account for 83 percent of drug abuse cases recorded in the country, prompting the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) to closely monitor the emerging trend involving fentanyl, its director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said. He stated that methamphetamine remains the most commonly abused synthetic drug, while the remaining 17 percent of cases involve traditional drugs such as cannabis and heroin.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the use of synthetic drugs is worrying as various types are being abused, with methamphetamine being the highest. AADK is also monitoring the new trend involving fentanyl, and the agency is equipped with urine test strips to detect certain substances. Ruslin Jusoh shared this information with reporters after launching the Jelajah Aspirasi Bebas Dadah and Kampung Aspirasi Bebas Dadah program at Dataran Kampung Belukut.
The test strips available to AADK can detect several substances, including amphetamine-type stimulants, or methamphetamine, fentanyl, AB-PINACA, cocaine, and ketamine. Ruslin noted that fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, and recent seizures involving such drugs have necessitated strengthened monitoring to identify the presence and pattern of new synthetic drug abuse in the country.
To further address the issue, urine tests will also be conducted on individuals undergoing rehabilitation to identify the specific types of drugs they have taken. "We do not want to only know that a person is involved in drug abuse, but also to identify what type of drug is being abused so that intervention and rehabilitation can be more targeted," Ruslin emphasized.
AADK is also concerned about the abuse of drugs through electronic cigarettes and vape devices, which pose a growing challenge in detection and prevention efforts. Ruslin highlighted the need for efforts to not only focus on enforcement and supply control but also on reducing demand, especially in states located near border areas.
Meanwhile, Ruslin mentioned that Labuan currently has 268 drug addicts undergoing AADK's rehabilitation process, with males accounting for 91.6 percent and women making up the remaining percentage. For 2026, amphetamine-type stimulants accounted for 98.5 percent of drug abuse cases in Labuan, while the remaining cases involved traditional drugs.