Small-Scale International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) 2026 in Rural Sabah: A Stepping Stone Towards Evidence-Based Substance Use Prevention

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026 was successfully organised on 25 June 2026 at the Rural Medical Education Centre (RMEC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kudat. The programme was co-organised by PEMADAM Sabah and Hospital Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HUMS), in collaboration with ISSUP Malaysia Chapter, the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), PERDESA, PPDJS, and other strategic partners. Although modest in scale, the programme demonstrated how strong partnerships and active community participation can create meaningful impact in substance use prevention, particularly in rural communities.

Approximately 150 participants attended the programme, including students, teachers, community leaders, healthcare professionals, representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and members of the local community. Participants explored five interactive educational stations focusing on drugs, tobacco, vaping and alcohol, participated in quizzes, shared inspiring messages through the Wall of Hope, and joined a variety of engaging awareness activities. These simple yet interactive approaches encouraged learning, open discussion and positive attitudes towards healthy, drug-free living.

The programme aimed to increase public awareness of substance use prevention while strengthening collaboration among universities, government agencies, NGOs and local communities. We were honoured by the participation of representatives from the Education Department, Neighbourhood Watch, SMK Sikuati II, Kampung Masakong, and other community organisations. Many participants expressed interest in continuing similar collaborative programmes in the future, reflecting the growing commitment of the community towards substance use prevention.

Beyond a one-day celebration, the programme reflected the mission of HARMONI (Holistic Addiction Care & Outpatient Mental Health Services) at RMEC UMS Kudat, which serves as a Treatment –Prevention Hub for addiction care in rural Sabah. HARMONI integrates prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, education and research to strengthen healthier, more resilient communities through evidence-based practice.

The programme achieved an overall participant satisfaction rate of 97.4%, demonstrating strong community engagement, meaningful learning experiences and broad support from participants. These encouraging findings highlight that community-based awareness initiatives, supported by multi-sector collaboration, can serve as an important first step towards building sustainable, evidence-based substance use prevention programmes.

We extend our sincere appreciation to RMEC, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Hospital Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HUMS), PEMADAM Sabah, AADK, PERDESA, PPDJS, Skuad AADK, JKPD, ISSUP Malaysia Chapter, Ecolink Alumni Association, volunteers and all community partners for their invaluable support and commitment in making this initiative a success.