Depressing Déjà vu for Malaysia’s Narcotics Nightmare

40-plus years of tough drug programs have had almost no effect other than filling prisons

By: Murray Hunter

In 1983, in a country where drug use had become an epidemic, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad rammed through what was regarded as some of the world’s toughest drug toughest programs. Authorities developed an intensive two-year rehab program for heroin and opium addicts, then the drug of choice, reorganized and expanded drug enf…