Abstract
In recent years, there have been increasing accounts of illegal substance abuse among university students and professional groups in Malaysia. This study looks at university students’ perceptions about this phenomenon. Students from Malaysian universities were asked for their impressions about drug availability and abuse, as well as factors contributing to drug abuse and relapse. The questionnaire also inquired into their knowledge and views regarding government versus private rehabilitation centers, as well as their exposure to, and views about, school-based drug-prevention education. Participants were 460 university students from five Malaysian states: Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, and Sarawak. Results showed gender differences in perceptions of relapse prevention strategies, as well as factors leading to drug abuse and relapse. Students also believed that drug education would be more effective if initiated between the ages of 11 and 12 years, which is slightly older than the common age of first exposure, and provided suggestions for improving existing programs. Implications of student perceptions for the improvement of current interventions and educational programs are discussed.
Highlights
Drug abuse continues to be a major problem in Malaysia [1], with almost half of the Malaysian prison population of 30,000 having been indicted for various drug-related offenses [2]
The overall objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions of university students related to drug use and availability as well as drug abuse and treatment services
This study was interested in getting non-user opinions on drug abuse to determine what areas might require more attention when implementing drug education and prevention programs
Summary
Drug abuse continues to be a major problem in Malaysia [1], with almost half of the Malaysian prison population of 30,000 having been indicted for various drug-related offenses [2]. Rather than focusing solely on compulsory rehabilitative treatment for convicted drug offenders [3], the open-concept approach provides drug users with the opportunity to receive treatment voluntarily at local community service centers without facing legal judgment or prosecution [4]. This new approach was aimed at allowing relapsed users to seek treatment while continuing with their life and career [5], while encouraging drug users with the motivation to change, to seek treatment voluntarily with no legal consequences.
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