Materia Medica Malaysiana

Designer drugs just as dangerous

There is ignorance among the public, including professionals, that designer drugs are not as dangerous as the “hardcore stuff”, so the Government wants to sensitise the public to their dangers.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said government doctors and private practitioners must look out for addiction to designer drugs and not just hardcore drugs as this problem had become more acute.
“Designer drugs are as dangerous as any hardcore drugs, even if they come in different name.
“The problem is that young people do not understand the risk in consuming what they call party or designer drugs when they go to discotheques or parties,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the state MCA liaison committee meeting yesterday, Dr Chua said the number of people using traditional drugs such as heroin, opium, morphine and ganja was on a downward trend but consumption of designer drugs was increasing.
“This can be attributed to its easy availability and ignorance over the dangers of taking such drugs.
“I would say that reports stating that there were 25 deaths due to designer drug-related problem is under reporting. These incidents are only in the Klang Valley. What about the other places?” he asked.
A daily had reported that 25 Malaysians, aged between 18 and 26, had died from designer-drug related deaths in the past 18 months in the Klang Valley.
The daily quoted police sources as saying that the big increase in rave parties and the mistaken belief that it was safe to consume designer drugs were among the contributing factors.
Dr Chua said that relevant parties would also have to be trained to identify, treat and counsel those suffering from designer drug addiction.
On another matter, the Health Minister said rectification, renovation and defumigation works were being conducted at the Sultan Ismail Hospital in Pandan, which had been plagued with fungal problems over the past few months.
“Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had informed me that the job would be completed by August and the hospital would be handed over to my ministry.”
The hospital would only start operating when the ministry is satisfied over its safety, he said.
The 740-bed hospital, costing RM557.8mil, was closed on Sept 25 last year after it was hit by a major fungal infection just two months after it started operations.