DRUG ABUSE : A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF MALAY DRUG ADDICTS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

There are currently more than five thousand known Malay drug addicts in Singapore. Of the two thousand five hundred Malay addicts in D.R.C.s, eighty two percent are relapse cases.

To worsen the situation, about eighty percent of Malay drug addicts here fall within the "youthful" 20-39 age group. For any nation or community, the people within this age group forms the "backbone" for its survival and progress. With more than eighty percent of Malay drug addicts falling within that age group, the implications are grave and far reaching for the community as a whole.

The present study looks at the phenomenon of drug addiction and abuse among the Malays. By using a "sequential model" (Becker,1963) framework and a "theoretical sampling" (Glaser&. Strauss, 1967) procedure, it attempts to single out factors that may influence Malay youths towards drugs and also compare it with factors that made some of them relinquished it.

The role of peer groups. "significant others." the type of drugs and cultural values are found to be important factors in influencing one's decision to take or quit drugs. Besides tracing the process of drug use among Malay addicts, the inherent values, motivations and incentives of the Malay drug subcultural world are also analysed. It is discovered that within the Malay drug subcultural world there exists an ambivalent set of relationship between "genuine" ganja smokers and heroin addicts.

Current rehabilitation programmes for addicts are also evaluated for its effectiveness. It is important to note that despite "better" treatment programmes (as the officials see it), complemented by tougher laws and legislations, the number of Malay addicts have yet to decrease. Why is this so?