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European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 11, Number 3 (2009)
471
The Influence of Community on Relapse Addiction to
Drug use: Evidence from Malaysia
Fauziah Ibrahim
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
E-mail: ifauziah@ukm.my
Naresh Kumar
Faculty of Economics and Management
Universiti Putra Malaysia
E-mail: naresh@putra.upm.edu.my
Abstract
This paper presents findings on the relationship between community support and relapse
addiction to drug use. 400 drug addicts on relapse cases were selected from eight drug
rehabilitation centres throughout Peninsular Malaysia for the purpose of this study. The
findings indicated that majority of the respondents perceived low to medium level of
support from their community. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that there is a
significant relationship between community support and relapsed addiction. The findings
are consistent with previous research that community support is essential to mould good
behaviour and to prevent relapsed addiction. Suggestions to curb relapsed addiction to
drugs were discussed in relation to the findings.
Keywords: Relapse, addiction, drug, social support, Malaysia
Introduction
The total number of drug addicts in Malaysia traced from 1988 to March 2006 was 292,696. This
formidable figure corresponds to greater than 1% of the total population in Malaysia. The drug
addiction scenario became complicated as the statistic showed relapsed drug addicts exceeded the
newly registered addicts. Although the treatment and rehabilitation programme was initiated since
1975, to help drug addicts to free themselves from drug (Abdul Ghafar, 1992; Malaysia Drug Report,
2002), the number of relapse addiction to drug use showed significant increase ever since of it
inception. For instance, from 32,808 addicts that were identified in 2005, 17,419 were relapsed addicts,
compared to 15,389 new addicts (National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA), 2006). Whereas, throughout
2005 only 33% of the total addicts managed to free themselves from the clutch of drug abuse after they
received trements and discharged from the rehabilitation centres (NADA, 2006). Indeed, high relapsed
addicts uptight the nation, coupled with the suffocating rate at the drug rehabilitation centers. If the
rehabilitation programmes are not succeeding the objectives, there would be a swell in the demand on
drugs and in the long run it would impinge on the treatment and rehabilitation efforts by the
government.
The society by large associate drug addicts with HIV and AIDS disease transmitters and
criminals. Indeed in 2005, 70,559 HIV cases were reported and 8,179 were declared positive for AIDS
(Chawarski & Schottenfeld, 2006). Besides, many drug addicts who were detained for rehabilitation
and treatments have to forgo their employment opportunities in view of the fact that the rehabilitation
European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 11, Number 3 (2009)
472
programme necessitates a long duration. To some extent this induces them to involve in crime to
financially support their ownself, family or probably to continue their addictive behavior ones
discharged from the respective rehabilitation centre (Habil, 2001). Indeed, the responsibility to fight
against drug abuse quandary in Malaysia should not only shouldered by the government and its
agencies. Effective anti drug measures needs complete support from the community (Abdul Ghafar,
1992; Syed Amin, 1995; Hussain & Mustafa, 1999). Paucity of the community’s empathy towards
drug addictions problem cause difficulties for the individuals who are trapped in the vicious spiral, to
get out of it (McGee & Newcomb, 1992; Navaratnam, kin, & Kulaimoli, 1992).
The meaning of relapse has change over the years. Relapse was originally seen as a failure of
the individual in recovery. Dennis (1989) defined relapsed as a process to going back to the same
unhealthy actions that would entice the reusing of substance of drugs. Normally, individuals who were
involved in the relapsed process would show changing signs be it their attitude, thinking, emotional
and actions. Relapsed always occurs due to specific cause. According to Hall, Wasserman & Havasay
(1991), one factor of relapsed occurs is because of the social factor be it the society’s acceptance or
weak social support network from the surroundings.
Normally, when addicts get treatment service from rehabilitation centre, they would have high
belief and determination that they would succeed in preventing themselves from being trapped again in
drug addictions (Patricia & Robert, 2005). This is because they have strong determination to recover
while undergoing treatments. However, after they have completed the treatment process and
discharged from rehabilitation centers, the situation reversed. Addicts realize that the surrounding
outside the rehabilitation centers is not as they expected and also they get attracted to get back to old
habits by looking at their old haunt (Hussain, 1994). This situation would change their determination to
be free from drug abuse while uncertainties and concerns rose amongst them due to the unexpected
surrounding effects (Marlatt & Gordon, 1985). The unexpected surrounding is the one which motivated
them to fall into relapsed addiction. Hawkins and Catalano (1985) in their research found nearly 69%
of those who reuse heroin after drug treatments were those who faced social pressures.
In Malaysia Mahmood, et al. (1999) found that about 30% of the inmates that fall into relapsed
addiction on the third month upon discharged from the rehabilitation centres, collectively reported that
lack of support from the society have drove them back to drug addictions. It has been sturdily reported
that community or social support is essential in reducing the relapse addiction to drug use cases
(Brown, Vik, Patterson, Grant, & Schuckit, 1995; Dodge & Potocky, 2000; Ellis et al., 2004;
Mahmood, Shuib, & Ismail, 1999; Mazlan & Chawarski, 2006; Salmon, Joseph, Saylor & Mann, 2000;
Habil, 2001; Havassy, Hall, & Wasserman, 1991; Hser, Grella, Hsieh, Anglin, & Brown, 1999; Moos
& King, 1997). On the other hand, it has been noted that there is no significant relationship between
social support and relapse addiction behavior (Cosden & Cortez-Ison, 1999; McMahon, Kouzekanani,
& Malow, 1999). This indicates that prevention of relapse to drug use required an inclusive social
support and probably has significant effects on relapse after released from rehabilitation activites (Ellis
et al., 2004). Thus, the present study examines the effects of community support and likelihood of
relapse after treatments and rehabilitation amongst drug addicts in Malaysia. The findings of this
research are expected to benefit the academic world and the management of the drug rehabilitation
centers. The law makers concerning relapsed addictions symptoms anticipated to effectively planned
and uphold the perfect welfare and quality of life on all society in Malaysia.
Labelling theory that was introduced by Howard Becker in 1963 was selected to explain how
relapsed addicts would get back to addiction after they release from the rehabilitation center. The
assumption of the theory is that by labelling an individual with negative image would cause one to act
and behave negatively. The act to label someone as deviant would cause the former addicts being look
down upon, perceived as unchangeable and always not accepted by the society even after they
undergone treatment and rehabilitation. This situation pressured them to accept the labelling that
eventually made them behaving as labelled, which to go back to relapsed drug addiction (Abdul Alim,
1994). Akers (1992), also seconded this theory because according to him, by labelling someone, it
European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 11, Number 3 (2009)
473
would influenced him to get involved with deviant society. With negative labelling, addicts would felt
they are not appreciated by the society, thus taking the easy way out by returning to their old friends,
who would accepts them and fall back to the old habits of misusing drugs. Akers (1992), thought that
bad and hideous labelling caused the addicts to absorbed the deviant role more strongly while looking
at themselves as what they have been labelled on until they get back to the drug addiction.
Methods
The primary data was obtained through a survey using self-administered questionnaire. The first part of
the questionnaire collected demographic information of the respondents. Second part consisted 42
items developed by Marlatt and Gordon, (1985) to measure the tendencies of relapsed addiction among
the addicts. The last part of the questionnaire consisted 6 items created by the researchers to measure
community support. The respondents were asked to respond on a scale ranging from strongly disagree
(1) to strongly agree (4). From the analysis, it was identified that the Cronbach alpha of all constructs
exceeds Nunnally’s (1978) recommended threshold value of 0.7. Thus, the instrument used in this
study showed a good level in terms of reliability. 400 respondents were chosen using systematic
sampling procedure. Questionnaires were personally distributed to the relapsed addicts who are
undergoing treatments and rehabilitations in eight Narcotics Rehabilitation Centres in Peninsular
Malaysia. Counselors from the respective centres help to disseminate and collect the survey. High
response rate (100%) for this study is due to high degree of cooperation by the respondents and the
centres’ counselors. In addition, the drop and pick method utilized in this survey was very effective.
The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 15.
Research Findings and Discussion
Respondents’ Background
Most of the respondents involved in this research were aged 30 and above (86%). The minimum age
amongst the respondents involved was 20 and the maximum age was 60. Most of them were Malays
and Muslims (80%) and unmarried (65%). The education background showed most respondents were
educated at the primary school education to secondary school education with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
(Malaysian Certificate of Education) (91%). About 47% of them used to work as temporary workers.
Perceived Level of Community Support
Community support refers to the supports and acceptance from the community surrounding the
respondents like neighbours, village heads and the mosque committees. The findings revealed a mean
score of 1.64 with standard deviation of .59 for the level of community support. As showed in Table 1,
about 23 (6%) respondents participated in this study perceived receiving high level of support from the
society, whereas 211 (53%) respondents received medium level of support while 166 (42%) received
low level of support from their surrounding community. The research findings showed that in
cumulative respondents indicated that they received between medium to low level of community
support, which consisted of 94%. The findings of this research gave the impression that the community
on the whole has yet to show openness in supporting relapsed addicts to recover from drug dilemmas.
The research findings also supports the findings of previous research as reported earlier that
community support is essential to drive away addicts from their old behavior. Indeed, the weak
community support pressured the addicts and in the long run would drive them to go back to
addictions.
European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 11, Number 3 (2009)
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Table 1: Perceived Level of Community Support (n=400)
Level n % Mean SD
Low (≤2.00) 166 41.5 1.64 .59
Moderate (2.01-3.00) 211 52.8
High (3.01-4.00) 23 5.8
The findings also showed a negative and significant relationship between community support
towards relapsed addiction tendency (r=-.315, p<.05). Negative relationship indicates that the lower the
community support, the higher the tendency for former addicts to relapse. The present findings not
aligned with the results by Cosden and Cortez-Ison (1999) and McMahon et al. (1999) who found that
there is no significant relationship between social support and relapse addiction behavior. Nevertheless
in cumulative many other research as discussed earlier strongly alleged that community support is
dynamic in molding a good behavior among drug addicts and perhaps to curb relapse addiction to drug
use. For example, the findings of this research support the research conducted by Mahmood, et al.
(1999). The researchers reported that about 30% of the inmates indicated that lack of community
support as one of the factor which drove them to their old behavior to drug use. The present findings
found that 64% of the respondents agreed with the statement and expressed that they were badly
received by the community because of their status as former addicts. Ellis et al. (2004) found that
positive community support could significantly decrease the likelihood of relapse among post-
discharge alcohol and drug abusers. Similarly Hawkins and Catalano (1985) reported that 69% of the
drug addicts go back to heroin use after they complete the drug treatments for the reason that they
could not tackle social pressure from the community. In the present research, about 65% respondents
admitted that they feel uncomfortable to mix freely with the community just because they are former
drug addicts. Apart from that, the research findings also found that most of the respondents agreed with
these reasons that drove them to relapsed addiction: 64% claimed that they were not received well in
the society and 66% admitted that they were always being suspected as culprit whenever there is are
burglary happened in their area. This research also found that only a small percentage (22%) of the
respondents received strong support from the community as such neighbours and village heads to be
free from drugs.
Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that without support, leadership, acceptance
and strong cooperation amongst the society, it would be difficult for ex-addicts to re-function as
normal humans in this nation. Negative thoughts and lack of empathy as well as assuming drug
problems is other people’s problem would only make it difficult for collective anti drug action to be
taken within the society (AADK, 2006). This situation would drive them to relapsed addictions,
although they have been receiving several treatment and rehabilitation services. Although not all
members of the community would reject the former addicts, those who actually help, understand and
have empathy towards former drug addicts are literally few. In many situations, following the prejudice
nature of some members of the community, ex-addicts were discriminated in many life aspect,
including denying their rights to get jobs that eventually made the addicts felt ostracised and in the end,
edged by the society. They would be look down and considered as trash of the society.
On the surface, the labelling theory founded by Howard Becker (1963) is suitable to support
and to reflect the research findings. The theory stated that labelling an individual with negative image
would make the person behave and acts negatively. Noran Fauziah (1987) also seconded this theory by
stating that the labelling of a person with negative image would cause stigma and bring bad effects to
the person concern. The society not only labelled the group, they would also avoid having interactions
with them. The act of labelling give statement and forecast imperfection, look down upon,
unchangeable and would always rejected by the society, even after they have undergone treatments and
rehabilitations. This situation forced the addict to accept the label tagged on them and induces to take
hold of drug addictions (Abdul Alim, 1994; Akers, 1992). In this research, 77% of the respondents
perceived that the surrounding community always regards them with suspicion and looked down on
European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 11, Number 3 (2009)
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them which in away led to relapse. However, the person who has been negatively labelled by the
society should change the negative thoughts by having strong determination to exhibit good characters.
Negative conception by the society should be embraced as life challenges for the former addicts to
improve and would evoke positive awareness and also be able to create humility within oneself. The
awareness should shook them up to be able to drive the former addicts to prove that they are not as
labelled by the society and also try to convince the society, as well as to shed the negative label. The
findings of this research found that 65% addicts confessed their difficulties to mix freely with the
society due to the labeling of them as ex-drug addicts. Because of that, the situation complicates their
effort to change, as they felt singled out. They were also seen as not serious in their efforts to show
positive change towards themselves and indirectly failed to change the negative conceptions from the
society towards them.
Conclusion
This study showed that most members of the community still find it hard for them to accept former
drug addicts due to their unlawful behavior. Community stigma that prone to penalise, causes most
former drug addicts who once vowed to repent, to go back to their old sins. Indeed, community support
is important to help shed the negative conception towards former drug addicts. The community should
change their conception, become more open minded and to accept former addicts as new person in the
society. The public should also play an active role in fighting against trafficking and drug misuse by
working hand in hand with the authorities. Apart from that, the society should also be ready to guide
former addicts so they would not get trapped in drug addictions. The society could do it through
various intervention programmes arranged and planned by drug agencies involved. The community’s
attitude to blame the government and drug agencies would only dampen the efforts to prevent relapsed
addictions. The society should be aware that the responsibility of preventing relapsed addiction should
not be shouldered by government in Malaysia or its agencies alone as it is a problem that should be
handled collectively amongst all parties. Without co-operations from the society, government’s desire
to rehabilitate former addicts and to turn them into functional citizen, could not be achieved. Because
of that, all members of society should help and guide former addicts by showing supports so they
would be confident to continue their life. With the co-operation from all parties in managing this
problem, former addicts would surely and confidently be able to build their life free from drugs.
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