Dealing With the Threat of New Drugs (psychotropic Substances) in Malaysia: a Pre-analysis From a Islamic Law Perspective
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article examines the issue of the use of various psychotropic substances including synthetic drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and new psychoactive substances (NPS) as a global issue that may pose unprecedented threats to sustainability and socio-economic growth of the country as a whole. The transition from plant-based to synthetic drugs poses new challenges for drug policy and public health strategies in most of the countries including Malaysia. Indirectly, this issue also poses a challenge to religious authorities, especially fatwa institutions, to address it. Therefore, in accordance with a qualitative study, this article will summarize the findings of existing literature on the abuse of psychotropic substances in Malaysia and its impact on social and public health aspects. In addition, this article will also examine fatwas regarding the use of these substances from the standpoint of Islamic jurists, as well as recent relevant fatwas from various authoritative legal institutions. Despite enormous efforts directed towards addressing the use of drugs or psychotropic substances use concerns, the cass associated with such use have increased significantly year after year. The essential feature of substance use disorder (SUD) is a cluster of cognitive, behavioural and physiological symptoms indicating the users continues to use the substances despite significant substance associated problems. Therefore, this raises concerns in the context of Islamic law in which the control of the use of psychotropic substances also needs to be based on considerations of maslahah and mafsadah in the context of a more holistic approach to safeguarding the maqasid syariah.AbstrakArtikel ini ingin meneliti isu penggunaan pelbagai bahan psikotropik termasuk dadah sintetik jenis perangsang amfetamin (ATS) serta bahan psikoaktif baharu (NPS) sebagai suatu isu global yang berpotensi mengancam kelestarian dan pertumbuhan sosioekonomi negara secara menyeluruh. Peralihan daripada dadah berasaskan tumbuhan kepada dadah sintetik ini menimbulkan cabaran baharu terhadap dasar kawalan dadah serta strategi kesihatan awam di kebanyakan negara, termasuk Malaysia. Secara tidak langsung, perkara ini turut menjadi cabaran kepada pihak berautoriti agama khususnya institusi fatwa untuk menanganinya. Oleh itu, sesuai dengan kajian bersifat kualitatif, artikel ini akan merumuskan dapatan literatur sedia ada mengenai penyalahgunaan bahan psikotropik di Malaysia serta impaknya terhadap aspek sosial dan kesihatan awam. Selain itu, artikel ini juga akan turut meneliti hukum penggunaan bahan tersebut menurut perspektif fuqaha Islam dan fatwa-fatwa semasa yang berkaitan daripada pelbagai institusi hukum yang berautoriti. Meskipun pelbagai usaha telah dilaksanakan bagi menangani isu berkaitan penyalahgunaan dadah dan bahan-bahan psikotropik, bilangan kes terus meningkat dari tahun ke tahun. Ciri utama gangguan penggunaan bahan (Substance Use Disorder, SUD) merangkumi gabungan gejala kognitif, tingkah laku, dan fisiologi yang menunjukkan penggunanya terus menggunakan bahan tersebut walaupun menghadapi kesan buruk yang ketara. Justeru, hal ini menimbulkan kebimbangan dalam konteks hukum Islam di mana kawalan penggunaan bahan psikotropik juga perlu diasaskan kepada pertimbangan maslahah dan mafsadah dalam konteks penjagaan maqasid syariah yang lebih holistik.
Authors: Norsyifa Harun, Mohd Hapiz Mahaiyadin
Language: English
Subfield: Toxicology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4417309476