Assessment of Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Models Towards the Decriminalization of Drug Use

Paramjit Singh Jamir Singh; Azlinda Azman; Thajun Rashadiah; Shankar Durairaja

doi:10.47405/mjssh.v8i12.2649

Paramjit Singh Jamir Singh School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
Azlinda Azman School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
Thajun Rashadiah School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
Shankar Durairaja School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia & School of Investigation and Enforcement, Kolej UNIKOP (Owned by The Royal Malaysian Police Cooperation), Block 3420, Persiaran Semarak Api, Cyber 4, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v8i12.2649

Keywords: Community-based drug rehabilitation, Treatment, Perception, Drug addiction, Relapsed drug users

Abstract

Community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR) programs have shown effectiveness in treating drug addiction through collaborative partnerships between various organisations. Exploration is needed in the CBDR programs as the outcomes can be used to study the explore the efficacy of the CBDR programs in implementing the decriminalisation of drug use policy. This qualitative study aimed to assess the community-based drug rehabilitation models towards the decriminalisation of drug use. This study used two different qualitative research methods. Firstly, semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interview technique was used to interview seventeen (17) drug rehabilitation officers. Focus groups were conducted with 45 drug users enrolled in CBDR programs. Their discussions were analysed for common themes. The thematic analysis generated three themes from the raw transcripts: (1) perceptions of drug rehabilitation officers and relapsed drug users towards decriminalising drug use that can be implemented in Malaysia, (2) relapse risk factors that cause the drug users to relapse after completing drug treatment and rehabilitation programs under National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA), and (3) effectiveness of existing treatments and rehabilitation programs offered by NADA. The findings of this study can be utilised to advance existing CBDR treatments and rehabilitation programs offered by NADA towards the decriminalisation of drug use in Malaysia.

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