Enhancing Drug Users’ Mental Health by Decriminalizing Drug Use: Insights from In-Depth Interviews with Drug Rehabilitation Officers and Relapsed Drug Users

Abstract

Purpose: Decriminalisation of drug use is an alternative policy that many experts, including health experts, legal and enforcement experts, and stakeholders in non-government organisations (NGOs), uphold. In Malaysia, this policy was initiated in 2019 by the government to remove criminal penalties from various laws against drug possession for personal use. This study aimed to explore perceptions of drug rehabilitation officers and relapsed drug users towards decriminalising drug use that could be implemented in Malaysia. This qualitative research used an inductive approach.Methods: This study used a semi-structured, face-to-face individual interview guide. A total of 15 drug rehabilitation officers from the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) and 15 relapsed drug users were interviewed.Results: Thematic analysis generated three themes from raw transcripts: (1) potential outcomes of decriminalisation of drug use in Malaysia, (2) readiness of the public to accept decriminalisation of drug use, and (3) readiness of government and NADA in implementing decriminalisation of drug use.Conclusion: Findings of this explorative research provide important insight into the growing body of knowledge on decriminalisation of drug use policy in Malaysia.