The National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) recorded 191,832 people for drug use in Malaysia in 2025, down 0.5% from 192,857 in 2024. Syabu and other amphetamine-type stimulants make up about seven in ten cases, and most people recorded are aged 19 to 39. Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah have the highest rates; Selangor has the highest number of people.
Below are the latest verified figures, with the year and publisher for each.
What "recorded" means
These numbers count people who came to the attention of the authorities. AADK compiles them from the police, the Ministry of Health and private rehabilitation centres (Free Malaysia Today, February 2025).
In 2025, 53.2% of cases were picked up through enforcement arrests and 40% through treatment, the Deputy Prime Minister said in February 2026 (Bernama). People who use drugs and are never caught or treated are not counted, so the real number using drugs in Malaysia is higher.
Drug addiction in Malaysia at a glance
| Year | People recorded by AADK | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 137,176 | |
| 2023 | 145,526 | up 6.1% |
| 2024 | 192,857 | up 32.5% |
| 2025 | 191,832 | down 0.5% |
Sources: AADK figures reported by Malaysia Tribune (February 2026), Bernama (May 2025) and Kosmo (March 2026).
That is 560 people per 100,000 residents in 2025 (Bernama, February 2026), against 566 in 2024 (Malay Mail, February 2025). The big jump came in 2024, and 2025 stayed close to that level.
Most common drugs in Malaysia
Syabu (crystal methamphetamine) and other amphetamine-type stimulants, such as pil kuda (yaba) and ecstasy, are by far the most common. The most recent full breakdown by drug type covers January to September 2024:
| Drug type | People, January to September 2024 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine-type stimulants (syabu, pil kuda, ecstasy) | 119,410 | 70.4% |
| Opiates (such as heroin) | 38,854 | 22.9% |
| Cannabis (ganja) | 6,750 | 4.0% |
| Psychotropic pills | 2,114 | 1.2% |
Source: AADK figures reported by Utusan Malaysia, November 2024. The remaining 1.5% is other substances.
For the whole of 2024, amphetamine-type stimulants accounted for 139,909 cases, up 34.4% on 2023, and cannabis for 7,121, up 63.4% (Bernama, May 2025). For 2025 the Home Minister gave 141,817 cases involving synthetic drugs (Bernama, June 2026), and AADK's director-general put synthetic drugs at 73% of all cases, with just over 20% involving what the agency calls traditional drugs (The Star, June 2026).
Methamphetamine was also the drug seized most in 2025, at more than 51 tonnes (Bernama, February 2026).
Drug addiction by age group
| Age group | 2025 | Share of 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 12 | 0 | 0% | 3 |
| 13 to 18 | 1,213 | 0.6% | 1,255 |
| 19 to 39 | 112,632 | 58.7% | 116,254 |
| 40 to 59 | 72,590 | 37.8% | 70,188 |
| 60 and over | 5,397 | 2.8% | 5,166 |
Source: AADK figures reported by Kosmo and RTM, 15 March 2026. The 2024 age groups as reported add up to nine more than the 2024 total.
Young adults are the biggest group, but the 40 to 59 group grew in 2025 while every younger group shrank. Among people using synthetic drugs, 84% are aged 15 to 39 (The Star, June 2026).
Drug addicts by state in Malaysia
States are compared by rate, the number of people recorded for every 100,000 residents, because a big state will always have more people.
| State | Rate per 100,000, 2025 | Rate per 100,000, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Kelantan | 1,105 | 1,130 |
| Terengganu | 997 | 974 |
| Perlis | 970 | 965 |
| Kedah | 965 | 898 |
| Pahang | 795 | not reported |
| Pulau Pinang | 757 | 803 |
| Melaka | 659 | not reported |
| Perak | 579 | not reported |
| Malaysia overall | 560 | 566 |
Sources: Sinar Harian, June 2026 (2025 rates); Malay Mail, February 2025 (2024 rates); Bernama, February 2026 (2025 national rate).
AADK's prevention director said the top four states are near or on the border, and Sinar Harian reported that this makes it easier for drugs to reach local buyers. By number of people rather than rate, Selangor was highest in 2025 with 25,475 (Bernama, February 2026). Sabah had the lowest rate in the country, 230 per 100,000 (Bernama, June 2026).
Men and women
Men make up the great majority: 95.3% of people recorded in 2025, with women at 4.7%. The number of women rose from 8,638 in 2024 to 8,926 in 2025, and 7,588 of those women (85%) were using amphetamine-type stimulants (The Star, September 2026). AADK's director-general said the barriers women face in getting help are often systemic and emotional.
New and repeat cases
For January to March 2025, the Home Minister said 60% of people recorded were new cases and 40% were repeat cases (Bernama, May 2025). We could not find a verified full-year split for 2024 or 2025.
Alcohol and young people: NHMS figures
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), run by the Ministry of Health, surveys the public directly rather than counting cases, so it picks up use that never reaches AADK.
- NHMS 2023: 10.4% of people surveyed were current alcohol drinkers, and 45.1% of those drinkers binge drink (Institute for Public Health fact sheet).
- NHMS 2022 Adolescent Health Survey, students aged 13 to 17: about 60,000 were estimated to be using drugs at the time, and about 106,000 had tried drugs at some point. Of the students surveyed, 2.8% had ever used inhalants such as glue, 2.3% ketum, 1.1% cannabis and 1% amphetamines or methamphetamine. About 7% were current drinkers (CodeBlue, May 2023).
What the numbers mean for families
If your son, brother or husband is using syabu and is somewhere between 19 and 39, he fits the most common profile in these figures exactly. You are far from the only family dealing with this. Our syabu guide explains what the first weeks off it are like.
The figures also show that addiction does not stop at 40. More than 72,000 people aged 40 to 59 were recorded in 2025, and that group is growing.
Most recorded cases begin with an arrest or a positive test. If that has already happened, our guide on what happens after a positive drug test explains the next steps.
Dependence is a health condition, and each number here is someone's child, partner or parent. Our guide on talking to someone about getting help covers how to start that first conversation.
How help works
Help usually starts with a conversation, often by a family member, before the person has agreed to anything. After that comes an assessment, withdrawal managed alongside medical care, therapy that deals with why the person uses, and a plan for life afterwards. Get medical advice before the person stops, as withdrawal from some substances needs medical care.
On the public side, the amended Act 283, Malaysia's drug treatment law, came into force on 22 August 2025. In its first year, 2,145 people came forward for treatment voluntarily: 1,401 in community based treatment and 744 in rehabilitation at a centre (Bernama, August 2026). Private residential treatment is the other route.
If someone is psychotic, violent or has collapsed, call 999 first.
Common questions
How many drug addicts are there in Malaysia in 2025?
AADK recorded 191,832 people for drug use or drug dependence in 2025, about 560 per 100,000 residents. This counts only people who came to the authorities' attention, so the true number of people using drugs is higher.
What is the most common drug in Malaysia?
Syabu (methamphetamine) and other amphetamine-type stimulants. They made up 72.5% of recorded cases in 2024 (139,909 of 192,857), and synthetic drugs were about 73% of cases in 2025. Opiates such as heroin are second.
Which state has the most drug addicts in Malaysia?
By rate, Kelantan, with 1,105 people recorded per 100,000 residents in 2025, followed by Terengganu, Perlis and Kedah. By number of people, Selangor was highest with 25,475.
What age are most drug users in Malaysia?
Most are aged 19 to 39: 112,632 people, or 58.7% of those recorded in 2025. The next largest group is 40 to 59, at 37.8%.
Are drug addiction cases in Malaysia going up?
They rose sharply in 2024, by 32.5%, then levelled off in 2025 with a 0.5% fall. The number of people aged 40 and over recorded went up in 2025.
How Salus can help
Salus is a private, confidential and voluntary 90-day residential programme for adults aged 18 and over in Cyberjaya, Selangor. Each person has a medical, psychiatric and psychological assessment on arrival, and withdrawal is managed alongside medical care. RM7,000 per month covers everything: a private room, meals, 24-hour care and medical oversight, individual and group therapy, family sessions and an aftercare plan. Our drug rehabilitation centre page explains the 90 days.
Families can call first, before the person has agreed to anything. Call or WhatsApp Salus for a confidential conversation about what you are seeing and what the options are.
This article is general information, not medical advice.
