Drug Research in Malaysia

Professor B. Vicknasingam is Professor of Addiction at the Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and former Director of the Centre. He has more than 20 years of experience working with drug users both locally and internationally. Since 2015, he has been member of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) World Drug Report Scientific Advisory Committee. He has also been a consultant for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on issues related to drug use.

His research is focused on understanding and developing behavioural interventions for people who use drugs. Over the years, he has found that the biggest challenge in translating scientific evidence from research to effective programmatic intervention is influencing drug laws and policies. He has a keen interest in drug policy issues and advocates for a shift from a punitive to a public health-based drug policy.

His presentation will focus on efforts to reform drug policy in Malaysia. Whilst Malaysia has taken steps to reform its use of the death penalty – including recently abolishing the mandatory death sentence, which applied to drug trafficking offences – people who use drugs continue to be punished with harsh laws. Professor Vicknasingam will reflect on the efforts of a group of researchers, legal practitioners, medical professionals and non-governmental organisations to advocate for changes to Malaysian drug policy with a view to decriminalising drug use.