Community-based Approach in Asia: Integration of SUD Services at the Grassroots Level

This presentation will be featured at Indonesia 2025, on the 18.09.2025.

Author: Honourable Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract:

Addiction and social issues remain a persistent global challenge, demanding innovative, integrated, and sustainable approaches for effective intervention related to prevention, treatment, recovery and after care, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The growing prevalence of substance use, abuse and use disorders (SUD), particularly in disadvantaged and marginalized groups, underscores the need for comprehensive and sustainable intervention strategies to mitigate their impact at the grassroots level.

This presentation shares lived experiences on a whole-of-nation stewardship to advance meaningful partnerships and functional governance structures to foster integrated, comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approaches to tackle drug supply and drug demand reduction through multi-agency, multi-sectoral intervention models in collaboration with relevant enforcement, non-enforcement, non-government and civil society organisations at the state, divisional, district, sub-district and grassroot community levels in Sarawak, Malaysia. The regional state-driven and community-driven framework is instrumental to integrate SUD interventions contributing to positive outcomes – higher help-seeking behaviours and recidivism in Sarawak, Malaysia.

This sharing leverages on surveys conducted by the Sarawak Social Development Council and University of Putra Malaysia by capturing comprehensive insights on a holistic understanding of the issue based on lived experiences of affected individuals and key stakeholders in tackling challenges, systemic barriers and reintegration efforts on drugs and substance abuse issues in Sarawak since 2016.

This presentation advocates a one stop committee (OSC) multi-agency and community-driven intervention model focusing on integrated, comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approaches to address DDR and SUD intervention in collaboration with relevant enforcement, non-enforcement, non-government and civil society organisations at the state, divisional, district, sub-district and grassroots community. To advance holistic and effective DDR strategies and integrated SUD services at the grassroots level, this presentation recommends multiple recovery capital initiatives that includes economic empowerment programs, social support networks, public health initiatives and access to community social support facilities.

Finally, this paper recommends integrating structured and inclusive SUD interventions to foster resilience and sustaining recovery compared to fragmented services and isolated policy measures. Sustained collaboration between relevant public agencies, non-governmental organisations and local community participation is vital to address drivers of addiction and social stigma. The model is identified as a key innovative mechanism for coordinated rehabilitation efforts, reinforcing socioeconomic reintegration and policy-driven solutions to develop holistic, scalable, and globally relevant strategies for tackling addiction in disadvantaged and marginalized communities, thereby contributing to sustainable and impactful addiction science innovations worldwide.