KUCHING: Designer drugs or amphetamines, better known as ‘Syabu’, are most popular among drug addicts in the state.
Cure and Care 1Malaysia Clinic commandant Mohamad Nor Musa told The Borneo Post yesterday that its popularity compared to opiates was due to Sarawak’s proximity to neighbouring countries with ample supplies like Thailand, Phillipines and Indonesia.
He also said that the drug could also come from neighbouring state of Sabah and of course West Malaysia.
According to him, people on syabu were also likely to combine it with other drugs like marijuana or other drug-related activities like glue-sniffing.
He also remarked that syabu usage is on the rise, regardless of whether they are pure or derivative concoctions.
“What is important however is that those who are drug dependent voluntarily admitted themselves to the care of the Cure and Care 1 Malaysia Clinic,” said Mohamad Nor, adding that its services are free of charge.
The rehabilitation clinic primarily deals with mild drug abuse cases, assessing each person before their admission.
Cure and Care 1Malaysia clinics began operation in October 2010 and are preparing for female drugs dependent patient this year.
The centre had open access services to provide treatment for everybody or anybody who are drug dependent.
It also provided counselling services and also attended referral cases from other agencies based on the National Anti Drug Agencies ambitions.
So far 25 people from as far as Miri had sought treatment or counselling at the clinic and the youngest patient to date is 15 years old while the oldest is 42 years old.
He also revealed 99 per cent of those they have seen so far are syabu users.
He also revealed that 15 years old who at that time was waiting for his PMR result was on syabu and it was exposed to him through his peers.
Most of the clients who had attended the clinics were working adults and so far two were female.
There are twelve types of services being offered for their rehabilitation. For those who are opiate users, they undertake the Methadone Maintenance Therapy, which works to substitute opiates with methadone.
“While methadone is a drug in itself, it serves to wean patients off of their original addiction,” Mohamad Nor said, adding that there are no drug substitute therapies for non-opiate users.
“Recovery is a life long journey but what people must understand is that when the patients relapse, it is not a failure, it is just a symptom of their sickness,’ said Mohamad Nor.
From 2011 to 2015, his long term strategy was to ensure that drug dependent clients were functional in society.
This year they are also preparing to accept more female clients by preparing wards for them.
For the time being they established a smart partnership with Sentosa Hospital to seek assistance with regards to psychiatric treatment and also pharmaceutical services.
“In this new millenium people cannot avoid drugs because everybody is taking some sort of drugs be it panadol, viagra or illegal related opiates but society must think out the box when they see drug-dependent people,” he said.
“If someone caught flu and took medicine but fell sick again, they can’t blame the doctor and the same goes to those of my clients who are drug dependent.”
Mohomad Nor is optimistic that they can provide their services to those drug dependent and they can contacted at 082- 612 411/412
Cure and Care 1 Malaysia Clinic situated at 6th mile within the Drug Rehabilitation Centre compound, and is one of seven clinics for drug dependent patient in Malaysia.