Research paperMalaysia and harm reduction: The challenges and responses
Section snippets
Background
Malaysia is not a major producer of illicit drugs, but close geographical proximity to the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos and Thailand) and other Southeast Asian countries that produce heroin, amphetamine type substances (ATS) and other drugs, has resulted in rising domestic drug use (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2003; United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US Department of State), 2004). In Malaysia, illicit drug
Methods
This project consisted of a 3-week desk-based data collection and analysis exercise involving three researchers. Over 100 journal articles, reports, drug user profiles, abstracts, documents, conference presentations and books were collected and reviewed. A review of drug-related issues in the media for the period 2001–2004 resulted in a further 120 reports. Key informant interviews with respondents from various government and non-government sectors dealing with drug use and HIV/AIDS were also
Trafficking, drug taking practices and risk factors
The trafficking of heroin into Malaysia remains a concern as reflected by the number of drug seizures, but also because heroin was the drug of misuse for most drug treatment admissions and drug-related arrests (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2004). In 2003, 128 kg of heroin were seized (Polis Malaysia, 2004) and whilst ATS were becoming increasingly popular and available, heroin (followed by cannabis) was the most common illicit drug for which people received treatment (United
Discussion
In Malaysia the HIV epidemic has for the last 15 years primarily affected IDUs. A similar situation has been reported in other Asian countries. In July 2004, at the Second Asia-Pacific Ministerial meeting on HIV/AIDS in Thailand, the Joint Ministerial statement reported its alarm at the rapid spread of HIV among IDUs. They noted a commitment to expand prevention efforts, recognising the special needs of IDUs (Ministerial Meeting on HIV/AIDS, 2004). Yet whilst Malaysia has long recognised that
Acknowledgement
This research was supported by CIPRA Grant R03 AI 56379-01, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA.
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