BALI, Indonesia: Sarawak’s innovative, community-based approach to tackling substance use disorders (SUD) took centre stage at the ISSUP Regional Conference 2025 here, where Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, urged regional cooperation for a drug-free future.
At a plenary session themed ‘Pioneering Addiction Science for Global Impact: Innovate, Integrate and Sustain’, she congratulated International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) Indonesia and the National Narcotics Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BNN) on the successful event and thanked ISSUP Global for the opportunity to share Sarawak’s experience.
According to a statement, Fatimah emphasised that enforcement alone cannot address substance use problems, calling instead for integrated approaches that combine healthcare, social support and long-term recovery measures.
The Sarawak’s One Stop Committee (OSC) model, introduced in 2018, is a proven example of a community-driven, multi-agency framework.
The OSC brings together several key initiatives that work in tandem to tackle substance use from multiple angles.
Among these is the Community Development and Intervention Centres (CDICs), which act as front-line hubs for prevention, early intervention, treatment and rehabilitation.
This is complemented by the Integrated Social Issue Case Management System (ISICMS), which was created to guarantee coordinated assistance amongst agencies and expedite case processing.
Equally significant is the Low Income Family Empowerment (LIFE) programme, which focuses on socio-economic upliftment to reduce vulnerabilities that often lead to substance abuse.
Collectively, these programmes create a holistic ecosystem that strengthens community participation, supports long-term recovery, and helps reduce the stigma around seeking help.
Together, these programmes provide prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and socio-economic empowerment, enabling stronger community participation and reducing stigma around seeking help.
Furthermore, Fatimah stated encouraging outcomes, including higher voluntary help-seeking rates, reduced recidivism and robust grassroots involvement in prevention and rehabilitation.
In conclusion, Fatimah called for greater regional and international collaboration to advance sustainable, inclusive and community-led strategies.
“Such cooperation is vital to build resilient societies and promote a drug-free future,” she stressed.
The ISSUP Regional Conference 2025 serves as a key platform for governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and experts to exchange ideas and strengthen cross-border efforts in addiction science and recovery.
