THE World Drug Report 2021 by the United Nations has identified several reasons for drug use associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Boredom topped the list. Other reasons include pandemic anxiety, stress due to lockdowns, more time spent with friends or family members who are drug users and the stockpiling of drugs before lockdowns.
These reasons shed some light on drug addiction in our country. According to the National Anti-Drugs Agency, the majority of those suffering from substance abuse are low-educated teenagers and unemployed young adults. The main reasons they got involved in drug abuse were peer influence, curiosity and enjoyment.
It is common for people to turn to their friends when they are bored, facing stressful situations or dealing with family issues. And, they are more exposed to drug abuse if drug addicts are part of their circle of friends. Research on group identity also found that teenagers in pop, techno, skate, hip-hop and hippie groups are more likely to use substance, compared with those in quiet, sporty, religious or computer groups.
Thus, it is very critical to promote a healthy living environments and leisure activities for youths. Continuous investment in effective public awareness programmes can eliminate or decrease drug abuse.
Can religion prevent drug abuse? The National Survey on Drug Use and Health studied how religiosity relates to drug abuse. An analysis of 70,000 respondents showed that across all illicit drugs, non-religious respondents had a past-year drug usage rate that was almost three times higher than religious respondents.
But, how can we relate the findings with the situation here, when many drug addicts are located in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu — the states that seem to be more Islamic and have a higher religious population?
Well, religious people are not entirely risk-free when it comes to drug misuse. In fact, the first recorded drug phenomenon in Islam was traced to the late 10th century in Makkah and was also used among mystics to arouse mental excitement, divine inspiration and endure long hours of meditation and zikr. The idea of using opium and cannabis as potent medicines and therapeutic needs often ended up with maximum dosages and frequent repetitions.
This probably explains the advocacy for medical marijuana and kratom among Malays nowadays. In Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb, Ibn Sina described the extraction method of opium and mentioned that opium dulls the intellect, impairs consciousness, weakens digestion and causes death by freezing natural faculties. As such, we need more public education on the medicinal properties of cannabis and kratom, together with its health risks.
Drug abuse is also associated with poverty and low education, when the reality works the other way around. A recreational drug is a luxury market. Cannabis is branded as a premium and higher-priced product and consumers who focus on health and wellness substitute cannabis for alcohol. The purchase of cannabis has increased by 25-30 per cent today than prior to Covid-19.
As the poorer communities may use drugs as a coping mechanism, for peer acceptance or to generate income, they may eventually fall into drug use disorder. Unlike the rich who can afford to pay for quality drugs and receive treatment in private rehabilitation centres, the poorer may drive themselves into drug-related crimes or consume counterfeit drugs and receive their treatment at government cure and care rehabilitation centres.
The law requires drug addicts to undergo compulsory rehabilitation and treatment programmes for two years. The proposed change of punishment by replacing the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 with the Drug and Substance Abuse Act will allow more drug addicts to be rehabilitated instead of being imprisoned.
As drug addicts from poorer groups are often being perceived negatively as criminals rather than victims, we need to break the stigma and instead help them towards faster recovery and better reintegration into community. Otherwise, they will relapse or worse, suffer from emotional or mental health due to social isolation and marginalisation.
In sum, drug use and abuse has increased during Covid-19 for a number of reasons. The world needs strong support from families, communities and government to help addicts recover and mitigating future drug abuse.
Covid-19 has already impacted the economy. Poor handling of drug abuse will add to the cost in terms of loss of government revenue from illicit trafficking, imprisonment and rehabilitation spending, as well as productivity loss from young talents.
The writer is fellow, Centre for Economics and Social Studies, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM)